Personal
Canada S2.75/US S2.00/FF 8.80/FL 4.00/SFr 7.20/IR £1.07/
BFr 87/SKr 13.55/DKr 21.00/Lire 3000/DM 5.50
World
November 1981 75p
BRITAIN S LARGEST SELLING MICRO MAGAZINE
THE JOLLY GIANT DELIVERS THE GOODS
World exclusive Benchtest of IBM's Personal Computer
Cromemco System Three
If you've already recognised the
superiority of Cromemco products, or
even if you're still evaluating alternative
systems, it’s worthwhile visiting
MicroCentre.
systems—single user and multi-user; and
a wide range of software, including
compilers, data base management, word
processing, and Cromemco’s integrated
business packages.
Here’s our promise. Ask to see anything in
the Cromemco catalogue, and we ll
demonstrate it for you. Nobody else in the
UK carries a wider range of Cromemco
demonstration systems and stock. We ll
show you all the Cromemco computers, of
course. From System Zero to System
Three; the Z-2H Hard Disk system; high
performance colour graphics; and the
adaptable SCC single card computer.
Then we ll show you quality Cromemco
peripherals; a choice of operating
For 0 Cromemco.
At MicroCentre we pride ourselves in
taking care of all the important details that
make up a complete service... like
stocking the complete library of
Cromemco documentation; arranging
leasing and maintenance agreements;
supplying continuous stationery, ribbons,
floppy disks, print thimbles, etc.
So if you’re interested in Cromemco
systems don't miss out a visit to
MicroCentre. We re Cromemco's top
dealers in Europe—and proud of it!
. .call the experts
MicroCentre
Tel: 031-5567354
Complete Micro Systems Ltd.,
30 Dundas Street
Edinburgh EH3 6JN
SACKCLOTH AND ASHES!
SUBSCRIBE TO PCW
Let’s face it, last month he went completely over the top
(no pun intended) on this page. There was really no need
to publish that revolting ‘exploding head’ shot. One out¬
raged reader even reported us to the authorities. ‘Ven¬
geance!’ cried the Editorial Department’ ‘Atone!’
demanded the Advertising Team.
Well, he has. Normally so tight that his head squeaks
when he removes his hat, our esteemed publisher has
agreed to really and truthfully offer readers something
for nothing. So. . . every person or company subscribing
to Personal Computer World before 30 October 1981
will be sent a free binder. This offer applies only to new
or renewal subscriptions accompanied by full payment.
Knowing our publisher’s behavioural characteristics we
can promise you it is an offer which is not likely to be
repeated.
For those of you unfamiliar with PCW binders, these
items are sturdily constructed, lavishly covered in butter¬
cup yellow naughahyde and gold-blocked front and
spine with the magazine’s logos. They normally set you
back £3.25 each and would grace even a bibliophile’s
shelves. More importantly, they will protect your
treasured copies of Britain’s largest-selling micro¬
computing magazine.
Get in now. Kick him while he’s penitent. Even if you
already have a subscription it could be monetarily
worthwhile renewing in advance. This will cause utter
confusion in our Subscriptions Department but, then,
that’s what computers are for, isn’t it?
Use the coupon below or the subscription card stuffed
somewhere in the magazine which has probably already
dropped onto your floor. Include your remittance if you
want to claim a free binder. Send to the address
indicated; no stamp is required on your envelope. And
congratulations on a good deal!
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Please send this order form, with your remittance, to Personal Computer World,
Subscriptions Dept, Freepost 7, London W1E 4EZ. No stamp is required.
If only choosing a microcomputer
was as simple as using one
Just look at the advertisements in
this magazine. When can you find
time to digest them all?
There are millions of chips,
thousands of boards and hundreds
of peripherals, software systems and
application packages. How do you
pick the right ones to meet your
requirements?
And put them together? And
make them work? And add the
specials you want?
Professional
Services
At Digitus we have computer
professionals working full-time
putting systems together. Absorbing
information. Testing equipment and
software. Writing programs. Training
users.
At one stop you can commission
a complete system to fit your
requirements
Working Systems
In the last two years we have
supplied systems for: number
processing, word processing, data
processing, information
management, graphics and many
creative applications. Advised
accountants, surveyors,
archaeologists and engineers.
Helped DP departments and small
business men. Developed software
for personnel, insurance, incomplete
records, order processing, business
games, linear programming, process
control and terminal emulation. And
were retained by other computer
companies to advise on micros.
Proven Experience
This year we can put over 200
man years computer experience to
work so that you can benefit from
micro technology... in comfort.
Come and see us. Spend a few
hours discussing your requirements.
Attend a training course. Select a
machine. Test some software
packages.
Solve the micro puzzle. Buy an
operational system that fits your
needs.
Call for an appointment or return
the slip and we will call you.
Digitus Ltd 10-14 Bedford Street
Covent Garden London WC2
Tel OI- 379 6968
TELEPHONE
2 PCW
c4, NEWSp R INT: Gu y
^^Kewney reports the
latest micro-happenings.
ftQBANKS’ state-
**^MENT: Martin
Banks looks at the likely
effects of the big com¬
panies moving into
micros.
W COMMUNICA¬
TIONS: Your
chance to have your say.
yCCTUK! NEWS:
* ^Latest happenings
around the ’Towns.
77 COMAL-80: Could
* “ this be the replace¬
ment for Basic?
CONTROL YOUR
® * OWN SUB¬
STATION: D E Graham
concludes his article on
interfacing the ZX80/81.
QO PATTERNS: Alan
Sutcliffe ponders
randomness.
1AA2nd EURO
MICRO CHESS
CHAMPIONSHIP: A full
report on the winning
games.
BENCHTEST:
David Tebbutt
brings the first ever full
test of the Osborne Ol.
114. CHECKOUT:
Sharp’s new
pocket translator, the
IQ3100.
116 BENCHTEST: A
world exclusive
a full test of IBM’s
Personal Computer.
1 AOEURO MICRO-
MOUSE ’81:
Robin Bradbeer reports
on the recent finals in
Paris.
1 07 COMPUTER
ANSWERS: Your
queries answered by
Sheridan Williams and
friends.
1 71 BOOKFARE:
Malcolm Peltu
reviews the latest printed
words.
4 O Q INTERRUPT:
Jeff Taylor con¬
tinues his look at com¬
puter literacy projects in
the US.
‘tAtL CALCULATOR
""^CORNER: Dick
Pountain reviews the
Casio fx702p.
Founder
Angelo Zgorelec
Managing Editor
Dick Pountain
Editor
Peter Rodwell
Editorial Assistant
Maggie Burton
Consultant Editor
David Tebbutt
Sub Editor
Jon \£all
Art Director
Paul Carpenter
Art Editor
Phoebe Creswell-
Evans
Typesetter
Jane Hamnell
Advertisement
Director
Stephen England
Advertisement
Manager
PatricK Dolan
Assistant
Advertisement
Manager
Claire Fullerton
Advertisement
Executive
(Micromart)
Marianne
McN icholas
Publicity/
Press Relations
Penny Flood
(01-995 1548)
Production
Manager
Stephen Rowe
Advertisement
Production
Vic Lime
Anna Williamson
1/17 benchmark
SUMMARY: A
roundup of our Bench¬
mark tests and a listing
of the programs we use.
TJ’S WORK¬
SHOP: More
hints and tips for
popular micros.
1 YOUNG COM-
wo PU XER WORLD:
Especially for our
younger readers.
1 CC NEWCOMERS
WJ, START HERE:
Our quick intro for those
new to the micro world.
156 PCW SHOW: A
report on
Britain’s most successful
micro show.
Groups, Transaction
File, Network News
and Diary Data.
177 PCW SUB
^ SET: More
useful assembler language
subroutines.
17ft LEISURE LINES:
® J J Clessa poses
another problem for
your micro.
J 70 PROGRAMS:
0 Our readers’
latest listings.
1QO BLUDNERS:
Red-face time!
1Q4. BACK ISSUES:
* Catch up with
what you’ve missed.
| DIRECT
' ACCESS: With
Packages, full User
(CHIP CHAT:
All the gossip
from the Show!
Subscriptions
Manager
Alexandra James
Subscription rates
UK: £10.00
Overseas: £17.00
Address
14 Rathbone
Place, London
W1P IDE
01-631 1433
(10am - 6pm)
Published by
Sportscene
Publishers (PCW)
Ltd, 14 Rathbone
Place, London
W1P IDE, England.
Tel: 01-631 1433
Telex: 8954139
BUNCH G London
Copyright notice
Personal Computer
World is published
by Sportscene
Publishers (PCW)
Ltd. 1981 Felden
Productions. No
material may be
reproduced in
whole or part
without written
consent from the
copyright holders.
Printed by
Riverside Press,
Whitstable
Distributed by
Seymour Press
334 Brixton Road
London SW9
Tel: 0 1-733 4444
ABC
PCW 3
Illustration by Richard Dunn
'^smsmm rn m
PRGM ALPHA
USER
On the edge of the atmosphere, space shuttle Columbia was about to lose all contact with Earth:
for 21 agonising minutes , touch-down would be touch-and-go.
As the world held its breath , the £4^2 billion project relied on a £165 hand-held calculator , small
enough to live in the pocket of Robert Crippen’s flight suit.
The Hewlett-Packard HP-41C. Unmodified. Just as you buy it today...
Astronaut quality.
Everyday simplicity.
The HP-41C.£165lfr
Sooner or later, a basic calculator is too basic.
Suddenly you need to ‘compute’-but with a ‘computer’ that’s as
simple and pocketable as a hand-held calculator. And, as NASA
found, that means an HP-41C.
Today, a broad-ranging companion to an A-level course.
Tomorrow, a fully-fledged, advanced programmable system for
the businessman, analyst, researcher, technician, engineer or scientist. ’
Whatever your job, here’s a calculator that will grow with you
and your needs step-by-step into a complete calculating system - yet will
always stay simple, manageable and portable. f
The friendly calculator with power in reserve
As a straightforward calculator, the HP-41C is a masterpiece
of compact power.
It gives you ###/-( p j| fljg # * * *
read-out in letters, user alpha
as well as figures ==================================================================5===™==============^:=™:::=
and symbols, so the display can talk to you in an easy, simple way
Yet, inside, it has the effortless, problem-solving power
normally associated with computers.
Among other things, that means the HP-41C is fully
programmable. You can feed its built-in 400-line memory
with ready-made programs or develop your own. Its friendly
style makes it surprisingly easy. And, because the memory is
continuous, what you put into it stays in-even when you
switch off.
But that’s not the end of the story by any means. Because,
unlike any other advanced programmable calculator you are
likely to see, the HP-41C has behind it a highly developed
package of software support representing many years of heavy
investment by Hewlett-Packard. So when you buy the HP-41C
you don’t just own a powerful system; you can put it powerfully
to work.
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Proven software support -
at your fingertips.
Here, the HP-41C really comes into its own with
an unrivalled range of software support.
The HP-41 C hand-held
‘computer’in a box. £165 brings
you the calculator, a comprehensive
270-page manual, owner’s hand¬
book, and programming guide, a
standard applications handbook,
customising overlays, HP Users ’Library
membership reply card, free one year’s
subscription to HP’s User’s Newsletter,
batteries, carrying pouch and 12 months’
full guarantee.
17 Application Modules - miniature plug-in
solutions: maths, electrical engineering, financial
decisions, games...
29 Solutions Books - each with up to 15
programs drawn from the best of 10,000 user-
submitted programs. Each book provided with Bar
Codes - for instant program entry with the HP wand.
11 Application Pacs - pre-recorded magnetic
cards covering over 2,000 programs, entered through
the card reader.
All software and peripherals are optional extras.
* Price correct at time of going to press.
PCW 4
Two ways to make your system grow...
Snap- in more memory. A single module
will double the memory available. A quad module
adds no fewer than 256 registers at once. Suddenly
you’ve over 1800 lines of memory at your command.
Plug-in a printer. The HP-41Cprinter
handles upper and lower case, in alpha, numeric
and graph-plotting modes. Use it for final hard
copy, or to follow program execution.
Four ways to program your HP-41C...
Card reader. This reads pre-programmed
magnetic cards. It can also record and read your
own programs and data.
Application modules. These are plug-in
modules each containing a whole range of ready¬
made programs on your chosen subject.
Bar code reader. A quick and easy way of
loading any one of the software packages. The
wand simply lifts’the coded program straight off
the page of your HP-41C solution books.
Keyboard customising. Develop your own
programs and enter them through the keyboard.
You can assign any function or program to any key
and mark them on your own customising overlay.
Thousands of easy ways
to solve problems.
Think of a problem! As an HP-41C
owner you won’t have far to look for the
solution-or long to wait before it’s
locked in your system’s memory. Any of
HP’s hundreds of pre-programmed
solutions can be easily entered in any of
the four ways we illustrate above. You’ll
certainly want to devise your own
solutions, too. The guidance manual in
your basic pack tells you how. If you
develop an original one you could
submit it to the HP-41C Users’ Library.
It already contains thousands of tested
programs which 10,000 users world¬
wide are happy for you to share.
Quality from HP-the big
computer manufacturer.
The HP-41C is made from the chip
upwards by Hewlett-Packard, a world
leader in computers. And you can tell!
By the detail like the permanent inlaid
key notations, tough ABS case, and
gold-plated port contacts. By the
elegant simplicity designed into the
HP-41C’s operating style. By the sort of
software support only a computer giant
would be capable of. By the utter
reliability that is the HP hallmark
throughout the world of computers.
Whpl HEWLETT
WLTM PACKARD
SeetheHP-41Cat
Comet,Xerox Stores,
Wilding, Sumlock-
Bondain,Landau
or these other
Appointed Dealers:
Aberdeen Tyseal Office Equipment.
Bath Wilding Office Equipment.
Belfast Cardiac Services Company.
Birmingham John Mabon Associates; Research Micro System.
Bolton Wilding Office Equipment.
Bournemouth South Coast Business Machines.
Brighton Office Machinery Engineering Co.
Bristol Decimal Business Machines; Wilding Office Equipment.
Bromley Wilding Office Equipment.
Cambridge W. Heffer & Sons; Wilding Office Equipment.
Canterbury R. E. Typewriters.
Cardiff Sigma Systems (Calculators).
Carlisle Thos. Hill International.
Colchester Wilding Office Equipment.
Croydon Wilding Office Equipment. Derby Office Machines.
Dundee Tayside Office Equipment.
Edinburgh Business & Electronic Machines; Holdene; Robox.
Folkestone R. E. Harding. Glasgow Robox.
Gloucester Wilding Office Equipment.
Gravesend Wilding Office Equipment.
Grimsby Teesdale Office Equipment.
High Wycombe Wilding Office Equipment.
Hornchurch Wilding Office Equipment.
Ilford Wilding Office Equipment.
Ipswich Anglia Business Machines; Wilding Office Equipment.
Kingston-upon-Thames Wilding Office Equipment.
Leeds Holdene; Wilding Office Equipment.
Leicester A. C. Barratt & Co.; Sumlock Services.
Lichfield Anglo American Computing
Liverpool Rockliff Brothers.
London AEC-2 Shoreditch High Street; City Business Machines-
57 Houndsditch, Bethnal Green Road; Concept Business Systems;
Dixons.Photographic-123 Holborn, 64 New Bond Street;
Euro-Calc-128-132 Curtain Road, 224 Tottenham Court Road,
55 High Holborn; Landau Calculators-Bourne’s Oxford Street,
227 Tottenham Court Road; McDonald Stores-
78 Oxford Street; Metyclean-137 The Strand, 92 Victoria Street;
Mountaindene-22 Cowper Street; Sumlock-Bondain-
263-269 City Road, 360 Euston Road, Cannon Street Station;
Wallace-Heaton-127New Bond Street;
Wilding Office Equipment- 7 The Arcade Hoe Street,
21 Thomas Street, 120 The Broadway, Wimbledon;
199 Parrock Street, Gravesend. The Xerox Store Piccadilly-
76 High Holborn, 110 Moorgate.
Luton Wilding Office Equipment.
Maidstone Wilding Office Equipment.
Manchester Automated Business Equipment; Holdene;
Wilding Office Equipment. Matlock Derby Office Machines.
Middlesbrough Thos. Hill International.
Newcastle Thos. Hill International.
Northampton A. C. Barratt & Co.
Norwich Leamons Office Machines; Sumlock-Bondain.
Nottingham Bennett’s (Typewriter & Office Suppliers);
Trent Office Equipment. Oxford Reid’s Office Equipment;
Science Studio. Plymouth JAD Integrated Services.
Reading Central Southern Equipment; Reid’s Office Equipment;
Caversham, 38 Market Place, Reading.
Romford Wilding Office Equipment. Royston Herts Electroplan.
Sheffield Butlers Office Equipment.
Slough Wilding Office Equipment.
Southampton Leicester Typewriters.
Southend Wilding Office Equipment.
Sunderland Thos. Hill International.
Sutton Landau Calculators.
Swindon Wilding Office Equipment.
Waltham Cross Wilding Office Equipment.
Watford Automatic & Electronic Calculators;
Wilding Office Equipment.
Worthing Office Machinery Engineering Co.
CHANNEL ISLANDS: Guernsey A E S Ltd
Jersey A. E. S. Ltd. EIRE: Dublin Abacus Systems.
All UK Comet branches.
PCW5
What would I do with a computer?
Play golf. Estimate your drive force *Flummox your Bank Manager by keeping *Keep the rundown on friends, everything Play Orbit and captain a spacecraft,
on the fairway. your finances at your linger tips. from their telephone numbers to birthdays.
Teach the children maths from * Keep a diary offuture appointments "Catalogue all your collections "Teach the children multiplication
Division to Volume. and past events. from coins to stamps. and play trains at the same time.
Or within a week you can write yourown All you need to know for £14.95. And a great range of books.... — and magazines to help y ou become an expert,
complex programs.
The first personal computer
that only p/'Q
adds up to
You’ll be surprised how much you
can do with a personal computer and even
more surprised at how little it costs.
We made it our business to find not only
the best-value-for-money computer on the
market, but also the best books to enable you to
progress from a beginner to an advanced user.
And W.H. Smith is the only retail chain where you
can buy the incredible ZX81.
The Sinclair ZX81 is a masterpiece of design. Which is
why it can carry out programs you’d normally expect from more
expensive computers.
Although the ZX81 is fast and powerf ul, it’s also simple to use.
Within hours you can learn to run programs and within a week you
could be writing your own complex programs. All you need is your own TV
(any model that receives BBC2) and a cassette player when using
pre-programmed cassettes. And W.H. Smith have a range available from £3.95 each.
So take your first steps in computing at W.H. Smith and make your life easier to run.
WHSMITH
I6K RAM pack expands
the memory capability
by 16 times. £49.95.
"These programs
require this unit.
Prices correct at
time of going to press.
KS(
Available at these branches only:- Altrincham • Basildon Bedford Birkenhead • Birmingham Bolton Bournemouth • Bracknell • Bradford Broadway Bradford Kirkgate BrentCross ■ Brighton • Bristol Broadmead Bromley
Burgess Hill ■ Burnley Cambridge Lion Yard Canterbury • Cardiff - Carlisle • Chatham Chelmsford • Chester • Chichester • Chippenham Colchester • Coventi^ • Crawley Croydon Darlington ■ Derby Doncaster
Ealing Broadway Eastbourne Edinburgh Eltham Exeter Gloucester Guildford Hammersmith Hanley • Harrogate Hartlepool Hemel Hempstead Holbom Circus • Hull Ilford Ipswich Kensington Kidderminster
King’s Lynn Kingsway Leamington Spa Leeds Leicester Letchworth Lewisham Lincoln Liverpool Loughborough Lowestoft • Luton • Macclesfield Maidenhead Maidstone Manchester Middlesbrough
Milton Keynes • Newcastle • Newton Abbot Northampton Norwich Nottingham Listergate Nottingham Victoria • Orpington • Oxford Peterborough • Plymouth • Pontefract Poole • Portsmouth • Putney Reading • Richmond
Romford ■ Salisbury • Sheffield Slough Solihull Southampton Southend • Stafford • Staines • Stevenage • Stockport Stockton • Stratford East • Streatham Sunderland • Sutton Coldfield Swindon Taunton Telford • Watford
Winchester Woking Wolverhampton • Wood Green Woolwich • Worcester • Worthing ■ Wrexham • York.
PCW 6
PRICES OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1981
APPLE ^ Two year guarantee
• Apple II + 48K, B & W Modulator . .
• Disk Drive Plus Controller (3.3) .
• Disk Drive .
Programmer's Ad.
Autostart Rom Pack.
Graphics Tablet.
• Silentype.
Apple Tel System.
Black and White Modulator.
Pascal Language System.
Applesoft Firmware Card.
Integer Card.
• 16K Ram Card (48K-*64K).
Language Card.
Apple Pilot.
Apple Fortran.
Apple Prototype/Hobby Card.
Vero Prototype/Hobby Card.
Parallel Printer Interface Card.
Communications Card.
High Speed Serial Interface Card. . . .
Centronics Card.
Controller Card.
• Eurocolour Card
B/W Modulator.
IEEE 488 Interface.
Thermal Paper for Silentype.
Vinyl Carrying Case.
4gjole Ties.
MCI - 9 Voice.
MCI 6 - 3 Voice.
NET V.A.T. TOTAL
Ring for Latest Price!
10-1-17 Timing Mode Input
Heuristics
Speech Lab.
Controller 70.
Speechlink 2000 .
Mountain Hardware
Clock/Calander.
Supertalker.
Romplus + Keyboard Filter.
Rom Writer.
Music System Complete.
Copyplus Rom.
AD 4 - DA 16 Channel.
• CPS Card .
Other Items
• Omnivision .
Numeric Keypad.
Sup 'R' Terminal.
Z80 Softcard.
Interactive Structures
AO-03/4 Analog Output 4 Chan .
AO-03/8 Analog Output 8 Chan .
A1-02 Data Aquisition.
Dl-09 Digital Interface.
• Al-1 3 Analog Input 16 Chan .
March Communications
Micro-Clock.
Micro-Port.
Micro-Synth.
Micro-Talker 1.
APPLESOFTWARE
• Micro Modeller .
• Visicalc (3.3) .
Visidex.
375.00
56.25
431.25
295.00
44.25
339.25
26.00
3.90
29.90
33.00
4.95
37.95
485.00
72.75
557.75
195.00
29.25
224.25
575.00
86.25
661.25
14.00
2.10
16.10
245.00
36.75
281.75
95.00
14.25
109.25
95.00
14.25
109.25
95.00
14.25
109.25
97.50
14.63
112.13
79.00
11.85
90.85
105.00
15.75
120.75
12.00
1.80
13.80
10.00
1.50
11.50
87.50
13.13
100.63
103.00
15.45
118.45
94.75
14.21
108.96
103.00
15.45
1 18.45
100.00
15.00
115.00
69.00
10.35
79.35
14.00
2.10
16.10
230.00
34.50
264.50
2.75
.41
3.16
16.00
2.40
18.40
6.00
.90
6.90
99.00
14.85
113.85
123.00
18.45
141.45
11.30
1.70
13.00
135.00
20.25
155.25
60.00
9.00
69.00
185.00
27.75
212.75
173.00
25.95
198.95
185.00
27.75
212.75
127.00
19.05
146.05
105.00
15.75
120.75
330.00
49.50
379.50
34.00
5.10
39.10
210.00
31.50
241.50
160.00
24.00
1 84.00
150.00
22.50
172.50
85.00
12.75
97.75
195.00
29.25
224.25
1 79.00
26.85
205.85
195.00
29.25
224.25
299.00
44.85
343.85
210.00
31.50
241.50
235.00
32.25
270.25
395.00
59.25
45425
49.95
7.49
57.44
49.95
7.49
57.44
49.95
7.49
57.44
85.00
12.75
97.75
425.00
63.75
488.75
105.00
15.75
1 20.75
110.00
16.50
126.50
VAW
★
Visiplot.
Visi Trend/Plot.
Visi Term.
Desktop Plan II.
CCA Datamanagement
Apple Writer.
Apple Plot.
Data Plot (Muse).
Data Base Management . .
Data Master.
Information Master.
• D.B. Master V.2.4.
The Address Book.
Magic Window Text Editor.
NETT
V.A.T.
TOTA^
98.00
14.70
112.70
140.00
21.00
161.00
82.00
12.30
94.30
110.00
16.50
126.50
56.00
8.40
64.40
39.00
5.85
44.85
38.00
5.70
43.70
33.00
4.95
37.95
47.00
7.05
54.05
47.00
7.05
54.05
67.00
10.05
77.05
105.00
15.75
120 75
27.00
4.05
31.05
49.00
7.35
56.35
155.00
23.25
178.25
. 68.50
10.28
78.78
111.00
16.65
127.65
66.00
9.90
75.90
35.00
5.25
40.25
21.70
3.26
24.96
22.50
3.38
25.88
31.00
4.65
35.65
15.00
2.25
17.25
20.50
3.08
23.58
20.50
3.08
23.58
2225
3.34
25.59
33.00
495
37.95
25.25
3.79
29.04
43.50
6.53
50.03
Applesoft Basic Compiler.
Full Lisa 4-part Package.
• Lisa Interactive Assembler.
Bill Budge 3D Graf Tutor.
E-Z Draw 3.3.
Animation Pac.
Saturn Navigator.
Higher Graphics II.
Higher Text.
3-D Super Graphics.
Apple World.
Memory Management System
• Programming Aids 3.3 ....
Shops Nationwide
& Mail Order!
BIRMINGHAM MICRODIGITAL
19/21 Corporation Street, Birmingham, B2 4LP. Tel: 021-632 6303.
Manager Peter Stallard. 300 yards from Bullring Centre (within Laskys).
BRISTOL MICRODIGITAL
16/20 Penn Street, Bristol, BS1 3AN Tel: 0272 20421.
Opening 16th October Between Holiday Inn and C. & A (within Laskys)
CHESTER MICRODIGITAL
The Forum, Northgate Street, Chester, CHI 2BZ. Tel: 0244 31 7667.
Manager: Jeremy Ashcroft. Next to the Town Hall (within Laskys).
EDINBURGH MICRODIGITAL
4 St. James Centre, Edinburgh, EH1 3SR. Tel: 031-556 2914
Manager: Colin Draper. East end of Princes Street, St. James Centre (within Laskys).
KINGSTON MICRODIGITAL
38/40 Eden Street, Kingston, KT1 1 EP. Tel: 01-546 1271.
Opposite Main Post Office (within Laskys)
LIVERPOOL MICRODIGITAL
33 Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2HF. Tel: 051-236 2828
Manager: Mark Butler Between the Town Hall and Magistrates Courts (within Laskys)
MANCHESTER MICRODIGITAL
12/14 St. Mary's Gate, Market Street, Manchester, Ml 1 PX. Tel: 061 -832 6087
Manager: Lesly Jacobs. Comer of Deansgate (within Laskys).
NOTTINGHAM MICRODIGITAL
1/4 Smithy Row, Nottingham, NG1 2 DU. Tel: 0602 415150.
Manager Alister Hawkes
Within Market Square, Exchange Buildings, Nottingham (within Laskys)
SHEFFIELD MICRODIGITAL
58 Leopold Street, Sheffield, SI 2GZ. Tel: 0742 750971.
Manager: Justin Rowles. Top of the Moor, opposite Town Hall (within Laskys).
Mail Order
If you are unable to get to a Microdigital shop then you can buy your requirements
from our Mail Order department at:
Microdigital Limited/ FREEPOST (No stamp required), Liverpool L2 2AB
* Send for free 24 page book brochure
The/Microcomputer Specialists
PCW 7
I11Z-SQDII SPECIAL OFFER)
A proper full size microcomputer for less than the real
cost of a toy microcomputer. The Sharp comes with
48k of RAM and the screen and cassette are built in,
instead of being expensive extras.
APPLE BOOKS
NETT
V.A.T.
TOTAL
Apple II Reference Manual.
10.00
—
10.00
6502 Hardware Manual.
11.00
-
11.00
Apple II Basic Program Manual.
3.00
-
3.00
Applesoft II Reference Manual.
5.00
-
5.00
DOS 3.2 Manual.
5.00
-
5.00
Apple II Basic Tutorial Manual.
5.00
-
5.00
Fortran Reference Manual.
14.00
-
14.00
Pascal Reference Manual (1.1).
11.00
-
1 1.00
Pascal Operating Manual.
1 3.00
-
13.00
Graphics Tablet Manual.
5.00
-
5.00
Silentype Manual.
1.00
-
1.00
DOS 3.3 Manual.
5.00
-
5.00
Pilot Language Reference Manual . .
10.00
-
10.00
Pilot Editors Manual.
8.00
-
8.00
6502 Software Manual.
11.00
-
11.00
HEWLETT PACKARD
HP 83 Computer.
1340.00
201.00
1541.00
HP 85 Computer.
1935.70
290.36
2226.06
1 6K Memory Module.
175.70
26.36
202.06
ROM Drawer.
26.80
4.02
30.82
Mass Storage ROM.
86.36
12.95
99.31
Plotter/Printer ROM.
86.36
12.95
99.31
Input/Output ROM.
175.70
26.36
202.06
Matrix ROM.
86.36
12.95
99.31
• Assembler ROM.
175.70
26.36
202.06
HP-IB Interface.
23526
35.29
270.55
Serial Interface Female.
235.26
35.29
270.55
Serial Interface Male.
235.26
35.29
270.55
Serial Interface No Connector.
235.26
35.29
270.55
GP I/O Interface.
294.82
44.22
339.04
B C D. Interface.
294.82
44.22
339.04
Centronics Interface.
175.70
26.36
202.06
HP IB Cable'/ jM.
41.51
6.23
47.74
HP-IB Cable 1M.
41.51
6.23
47.74
HP-IB Coble 2M.
44.48
6.67
51.15
HP-IB Cable AM.
50.41
7.56
57.97
Plotter.
. 1435.70
215.36
1651.06
Personality Module.
439.50
65.93
505.43
O'Head Transp. Kit.
58.06
8.71
66.77
NETT
V.A.T.
TOTAL
Plotter Canying Case.
140.64
21.10
161.74
100 Sheets English.
4.21
.63
4.84
100 Sheets Metric.
4.21
.63
4.84
50 Sheets Blank EF.
1.81
.27
2.08
50 Sheets Blank A4.
1.81
.27
2.08
4 Colour Pen PAC.
3.82
.57
4.39
5 Red Pens .
3.82
.57
4.39
5 Blue Pens.
3.82
.57
4.39
5 Green Pens.
3.82
.57
4.39
5 Black Pens.
3.82
.57
4.39
100 Transp. Films.
12.97
1.95
14.92
Tansp. Solvent.
2.35
.35
2.70
Transp. Pens BRBG.
5.00
.75
5.75
Transp. Pens BOBV.
5.00
.75
5.75
Transp. Pens BRBG Wide.
5.00
.75
5.75
Transp. Pens BOBV Wide.
5.00
.75
5.75
> Printer HP 82905A.
597.00
89.55
686.55
Printer HP 263IB.
. 2314.70
347.21
2661.91
Printer Stand.
169.94
25.49
195.43
Paper Rack.
31.06
4.66
35.72
Sound Cover.
61.53
9.23
70.76
Wire Paper Basket.
31.06
4.66
35.72
Printer Ribbon (Pack of 3).
36.92
5.54
42.46
Tape Cartridge (Pack of 5).
55.67
8.35
64.02
Thermal Paper Blue (Box 2)
1 8.06
2.71
20.77
Thermal Paper Black (Box 6).
54.17
8.13
62.30
Cartridge Manual Holder.
6.02
.90
6.92
HP 83/85 Carrying Case.
72.23
10.83
83.06
3 Ring System Binder.
6.02
.90
6.92
Dust Cover.
9.03
1.35
10.38
Owners Manual HP 83/85
15.05
-
15.05
Pocket Guide.
3.01
-
3.01
Mass Storage ROM Manual.
6.02
-
6.02
Plotter Printer ROM Manual.
6.02
-
6.02
I/O ROM Manual.
1 8.05
-
18.05
Matrix ROM Manual.
6.02
-
6.02
Assembler ROM Manual.
1 2.04
-
12.04
Flexible Disk Operating Manual.
6.02
-
6.02
HP-IB Manual.
6.02
-
6.02
Serial Installation Manual.
6.02
-
6.02
GP-I/O Manual.
o.02
-
6.02
BCD Manual.
6.02
-
6.02
Centronics Manual.
6.02
-
6.02
Standard PAC.
56.58
8.49
65.07
Basic Training.
56.58
8.49
65.07
General Statistics.
56.58
8.49
65.07
Finance.
56.58
849
65.07
Maths.
56.58
8.49
65.07
-Circuit Analysis.
56.58
8.49
65.07
Games.
56.58
8.49
65.07
Linear Programming.
56.58
8.49
65.07
Text Editing.
56.58
8.49
65.07
Wave Form Analysis.
56.58
8.49
65.07
Basic Stat and Data.
56.58
8.49
65.07
Regression Analysis.
56.58
8.49
65.07
Graphics Presentation.
119.12
17.87
136.99
> Visicalc Plus .
119.12
17.87
136.99
> Information Management .
119.12
17.87
136.99
Surveying.
119.12
17.87
136.99
Dual Master 5 1 /4 ,/ (540K).
1489.00
223.35
1712.35
Dual Add on 5’A" (540K).
1310.32
196.55
1506.87
Single Master S'U" (270K)
893.40
134.01
1027.41
Single Add on S'U" (270K).
774.28
116.14
890.42
Dual Master 8" (2400K).
. 4002.33
600.35
4602.68
Dual Add on 8" (2400K)
. 3387.03
508.05
3895.08
Single Master 8" (1200K).
2924.14
438.62
3362.76
Single Add on 8" (1200K).
2308.84
346.33
2655.17
Flexible Disk 5'U" (Pack 10).
43.30
6.50
49.80
Flexible Disk 8" (Pack 10) ..
61.53
9.23
70.76
Graphics Tablet.
1201.30
1 80.20
1381.50
Digitising Sight
21.07
3.16
24.23
★ Send for free 24 page book brochure
PCW 8
The/VIcrocomputef Specialists
SHARP ★ Two year guarantee
NETT
V.A.T.
TOTAL
• PCI 211 Computer.
80.00
12.00
92.00
CE121 Cassette Interface.
11.00
1.65
12.65
CE122 Printer interface.
60.00
9.00
69.00
CSR 700 Paper Rolls (40).
5.00
.75
5.75
EA 800R Ink Ribbons.
1.80
.27
2.07
• MZ80K Computer 48K
347.00
52.00
399.00
MZ80 I/O Expansion Interface.
96.00
14.40
1 10.40
MZ80 F.D. Dual Disks.
560.00
84.00
644.00
MZ80 F I/O Disk Interface.
52.00
7.80
59.80
MZ80 FMD Master Disk and Manual .
20.00
3.00
23.00
MZ80F15 Disk Cable.
8.00
1.20
9.20
MZ80 FOS Extra Disk Cable.
7.00
1.05
8.05
MZ80 P3 Dot Matrix Printer
365.00
54.75
419.75
MZ80 T20C Machine Language.
18.00
2.70
20.70
MZ80 TU Assembler.
36.00
5.40
41.40
• MZ80 T40E Pascal.
40.00
6.00
4600
MZ80 I/O-1 Universal Interface Card. . .
40.00
6.00
46.00
• MZ80B Computer 64K.
Ring for Latest Price!
MZ80 FI Disk Interface.
94.00
14.10
108.10
MZ80 MDB Master Disk and Manual. . .
30.00
4.50
34.50
MZ80 BJC Disk Cable Jointer.
15.00
2.25
17.25
MZ80 EU Expansion Interface.
47.00
7.05
54.05
MZ80 P5 Dot Matrix Printer.
387.00
58.05
445.05
MZ80 GMK Graphics Option.
112.00
16.80
128.80
MZ80 1/0-2 Universal Interface Card. . .
40.00
6.00
46.00
MZ80 T10C K - * B Converter.
7.00
1.05
8.05
Sharp Cassette Software
Towering Inferno.
5.85
88
6.73
Block Kuzushai.
5.85
.88
6.73
Head-On.
5.85
.88
6.73
Asteroids.
5.85
.88
6.73
Escape from Colditz.
8.45
1.27
9.72
NETT
V.A.T.
TOTA^
Conversational Spanish.
. 28.26
4.24
32.50
Conversational Italian.
. 28.26
4.24
32.50
Music Composer ROM.
. 28.26
4.24
32.50
Touchtype.
. 13.00
1.95
14.95
CalcAor.
. 14.74
2.21
16.95
Graphit.
. 10.39
1.56
11.95
Statistics.
. 10.39
1.56
11.95
Eng. Czar.
. 7.78
1.17
8.95
Hangman.
. 7.78
1.17
8.95
Kingdom.
. 7.78
1.17
8.95
States and Capitals.
. 7.78
1.17
8.95
States Europe.
. 7.78
1.17
8.95
Scram.
. 11.26
1.69
12.95
Telelink ROM.
. 13.00
1.95
14.95
Asteroids ROM.
. 26.04
3.91
29.95
Bask/Ball ROM.
. 21.30
3.20
24.50
Blackjack.
. 7.78
1.17
8.95
Chess ROM.
. 21.30
3.20
24.50
Miss. Comd ROM.
. 26.04
3.91
29.95
Space Inv. ROM.
. 21.30
3.20
24.50
Space Inv.
. 11.26
1.69
12.95
► Star Raiders ROM
26.04
3.91
29.95
Super Breakout ROM.
. 21.30
3.20
24.50
Assembler Editor ROM.
. 30.00
4.50
34.50
Pilot ROM.
. 43.04
6.46
49.50
Microsoft Basic.
. 43.04
6.46
49.50
Technical Notes.
. 14.74
-
14.74
Operating System Lists.
. 9.52
-
9.52
DOS Lists.
. 2.61
-
2.61
DOS 2 Manual.
. 6.04
-
6.04
VIDEO GENIE
The
Memory
Guaranteed quality - thousands already supplied Any faulty chips should be returned to us
within 1 2 months of purchase with proof of purchase for replacement by return of post
4116
200 nanoseconds
2114 low power
300 nanoseconds 130 pence + VAT each.
87 pence + vat each.
ATARI
400 16K Computer. 300.00
800 16K Computer. 560.87
410 Tape Recorder
810 Disk Drive.
822 Thermal Printer
825 80 Column Printer. .
850 RS232 Interface . . .
16K RAM Upgrade
Light Pen.
Pair Paddles.
Pair Joysticks.
I/O Cable.
Printer Cable.
Interface Cable.
RS 232 Cable.
Monitor Cable.
Thermal Paper.
Master Disk.
5 Blank Disks.
Word Processor.
Inv. Prog. 1.
Conversational French . .
Conversational German .
43.48
300.00
230.43
478.26
1 17.39
56.52
39.13
10.43
10.43
8.26
24.78
20.43
20.43
20.43
3.48
13.91
13.91
73.91
10.39
28.26
28.26
45.00
84.13
6.52
45.00
34.57
71.74
17.61
8.48
5.87
1.57
1.57
1.24
3.72
3.07
3.07
3.07
.52
2.09
2.09
1 1.09
1.56
4.24
4.24
345.00
645.00
50.00
345.00
265.00
550.00
1 35.00
65.00
45.00
12.00
12.00
9.50
28.50
23.50
23.50
23.50
4.00
16.00
16.00
85.00
11.95
32.50
32.50
Video Genie Computer. 279.00
EG301 3 Expander. 185.00
EG3013 Expander + RS232 . 215.00
32K Memory Board SI 00 . 105.00
Single Disk Drive. 215.00
Dual Disk Drive (40 Track). 410.00
2 Drive Cable.
4 Drive Cable.
Printer Cable.
Parallel Interface EG3016.
Sound Kit.
Fitting Above.
Lower Case Kit.
Fitting Above.
Keyboard Update Kit.
RS232 Interface.
17.00
32.00
17.00
33.00
10.00
5.00
33.00
5.00
3.00
52.00
41.85'
27.75
32.25
15.75
32.25
61.50
2.55
4.80
2.55
4.95
1.50
.75
4.95
.75
.45
7.80
320.85
212.75
247.25
1 20.75
247.25
471.50
19.55
36.80
19.55
37.95
11.50
5.75
37.95
5.75
3.45
59.80
Video Genie Cassette Software
Space Invaders. 13.00 1.95 14.95
Asteroids. 8.75 1.31 10.06
Golden Baton. 8.75 1.31 10.06
Lost in Space. 8.75 1.31 10.06
Space Eye. 8.75 1.31 10.06
Books for Video Genie
Learning Level II BASIC by David Lien. 1 2.40
Microsoft™ BASIC by Knecht. 8.95
Video Genie System Service Manual. 5.00
The easy way to programming in BASIC using the Video Genie System
by John and Judy Deane. 5.00
PRINTERS
Epson
MX80 FT/1.
• MX80 FT Newtype 2 .
MX82.
MX 100.
• MX130.
415.00
62.26
477.25
399.00
59.85
485.85
465.00
69.75
534.75
389.00
58.35
447.35
575.00-
86.25
661.25
Ring for Latest Price!
★ Send for free 24 page book brochure
The/Mcrocomputef Specialists
PCW 9
Epson Interfaces
NETT
V.A.T.
TOTAL
Epson/Sharp Cassette.
65.00
9.75
74.75
Epson/Sharp Disk.
1 20.00
18.00
138.00
Epson/RS232 .
45.00
6.75
51.75
Ep$on/RS232 + 2K FIFO.
98.00
14.70
112.7C
Epson/Apple.
85.00
12.75
97.75
Epson/TRS 80 Bus.
59.00
8.85
67.85
Epson/TRS 80 Expansion.
25.00
3.75
28.75
Epson Ribbons.
7.00
1.05
8.05
Epson MX 100, MX1 30 Ribbons.
8.50
1.28
9.78
Microline 80
295.00
44.25
339.25
Microline 80 Tractor.
45.00
6.75
51.75
Diplomat Card (Apple-Microline).
85.00
12.75
97.75
Microline Ribbons.
2.25
.34
2.59
Paper Tiger 445.
560.00
84.00
644.00
Paper Tiger 460.
690.00
103.50
793.50
# Paper Tiger 560 .
850.00
127.50
977.50
445, 460, 560 Ribbons.
8.50
1.28
9.78
Centronics 737.
390.00
58.50
448.50
Centronics 739.
485.00
72.75
557.75
737/739 Ribbons.
6.00
.90
6.90
• Seicosha GP80
195.00
2925
22425
Seikosha Interfaces
Seiko/Apple.
59.00
8.85
67.85
Seiko/Pet.
59.00
8.85
67.85
Seiko/Video Genie (EG3016).
33.00
4.95
37.95
Seiko/RS232 .
79.00
1 1.85
90.85
Seiko/TTL Serial.
43.00
6.45
49.45
Seiko/IEEE 488 .
59.00
8.85
67.85
Seiko/Sharp (Disk).
59.00
8.85
67.85
Seiko/Tandy.
30.00
4.50
34.50
Seiko Ribbons.
4.00
.60
4.60
Seiko Paper 872" x 11" 2000 Sheets. . .
12.00
1.80
13.80
Paper 9'/a" x 1 1" 2000 Sheets.
12.00
1.80
13.80
Paper Delivery.
3.00
.45
3.45
VIDEO MONITORS
BM12E 12" Green.
VM129 12" B/W.
VM906 9" HI RES B/W.
VM910 9" B/W.
10" B/W Monitor.
Cables.
Colour Monitors 14" New!
• MP 14N (NTSC) m, RGB
• MP 14P (PAL) TTL, RGB.
SUNDRIES
QED Mains Suppressor 3 amp. . .
QED Mains Suppressor 6 amp. . .
Mini Floppy Head Cleaning Kit.
Cl 5 Cassette.
C15 Cassettes Box 10.
C15 Cassettes Box 50.
Cl 5 Cassettes Box 100.
• Cl 5 Cassettes Box 1000
Mini Floppy SS/DD.
Mini Floppy SS/DD x 10.
Mini Floppy SS/DD x 50.
180.00
27.00
207.00
1 83.00
27.45
210.45
150.00
22.50
172.50
125.00
18.75
143.75
85.00
12.75
97.75
5.00
.75
5.75
285.00
42.75
327.75
285.00
42.75
327.75
Mini Floppy DS/DD*.
Mini Floppy DS/DD x 10
• 4116,200 N.S
• 21 14, 300 N.S.
Tl Programmer Calc.
Paper B’/a" x 11" 2000 Sheets
Paper 9W' x 11" 2000 sheets
Paper Delivery.
12.80
1.92
14.72
17.30
2.60
19.90
19.50
2.93
22.43
.80
.12
.92
5.20
.78
5.98
25.00
3.75
28.75
45.00
6.75
51.75
370.00
55.50
425.50
2.50
.38
2.88
20.00
3.00
23.00
87.50
13.13
100.63
150.00
22.50
172.50
4.00
.60
4.60
33.00
4.95
37.95
150.00
22.50
172.50
275.00
41.25
316.25
87
.13
1.00
1.30
.20
1.50
45.00
6.75
51.75
12.00
1.80
13.80
12.00
1.80
13.80
3.00
.45
3.45
Terms & Conditions
Microdigftal Limited is part of the retail division of the Lodbroke Group of companies and is registered in England.
Registered Number 319646437
Registered Office: Chancel House, Neasden Lane, London NW10
Directors: P M George, P Klein, G W Ralph, D J Sate.T Edmundson
Ultimate Holding Company Lodbroke Group Limited VAT Number: 240 1132 31
Our Condition* of Bu«inet» . , , , _j
In addition to cash we accept Access, Barclaycard, Stereo Club, American Express, Diners Club and cheques covered
by a bankers card.
Official orders over £50 are welcome, with normal 30 days credit extended to bona-fide commercial and
government organisations All prices, specifications and terms are subject to change without notice at the discretion of
the management Offers subject to availability
All previous Microdigital Advertisements are superseded by this Not all stores carry every advertised item Prices
correct at time of going to press E & O E
Computer It*toiler* Aieocietion
We are founder members of the Computer Retailers Association, a voluntary organisation of leading micro-computer
dealers and service organisations
The purpose of the Association is to maintain and improve standards of trading and customer support within the
industry and to present the industry's case to the outside world. The Association also acts as a forum where members
can discuss common problems
A Bettor OueranN* ... , , ,
Microdigital Ltd., warrants the products it sells against defects in material and workmanship for a period ot one year
from the date of purchase, two years for Apple and Sharp products
During the warranty period, the company will repair (or at its own option, replace) at no charge, components that
prove defective This is provided the product is returned, shipping prepaid, or by person, stating when it was bought
and enclosing proof of purchase
This wanonty does not apply if, in the opinion of the company, the product has been damaged by accident, misuse or
misapplication.
La*kvs Stereoclub
- the nandy way to buy, from Microdigital Multiply your monthly payment to 24 to find out your credit limit For
instance, for the minimum monthly payment of £5 you would get credit up to £1 20. In some cases you may be able
to get instant credit by paying a deposit of 1 0% of a purchase pnce Current Stereoclub interest rate is 2.5% monthly
- equivalent to an APR of 34 . 5 %. Rotes may vary
If you pay by Bankers' Order, apart from the extra convenience, you'll en|oy a LOWER INTEREST RATE - currently
2.2% monthly, equivalent to on APR of 29 . 8 %.
As a Stereoclub member well send you regular news and literature from Lasky's ond Microdigital. Lasky s Stereoclub
is probably the best thing that's happened to Microcomputers since the invention of the chip!
Mail Order
If you are unable to get to a Microdigital shop then you can buy your requirements from our Mail Order Department at:
Microdigital Limited, FREEPOST (No stamp required), Liverpool, L2 2AB
The Conditions of Business are the same as the shops except
1. Allow one week for personal cheques to clear
2 Add £ 1 p&p to orders under £10
3. Carriage free on orders over £ 10 within Mainland U K. Overseas add 15%
Telephone Order*
Just give your credit card number and requirements on our 24 hour 7 day
Ansaphone Service: 051 -236 0707 Mail Order Manageress - Lyn Major
Head Office
Accounts, administration and engineering are at
Mkrodigital Limited, 1 4 Castle Street, Liverpool L2 OTA Telephone 051 -227 2535
General Manager Bruce Evenss, Operations Manager: Graham Jones
| Microdigital Mail Order Form
h MAIL TO: Microdigital Limited, Freepost, Liverpool L2 2AB
i
i
i
i
Office Use
only
Goods required
Price
1
2
3
4
5
6
VAT in this ad has been calculated at the rate Add £ 1 P & P to
of* 1 5% current at the time of writing. orders under £ 10
Please allow for any chanqes.
Total
1
. If you require a Stereo Club application form tick this box CU
Access: 5224 11 _.,J L . J. ...1... 1 ...L-J
Barclaycard: 4929 Q
| American Express/Diners Club/Stereo Club No
| Expiry date:
I Name:_
I Address-_
i
Post Code:_
| Tel: (day).
i..
★ Sand for free 24 page book brochure
SQHI
PCW 11/81
The/VlicroccxTxxjler Specialists
PCW 10
SIX
TOUGH QUESTIONS
YOU SHOULD ASK
BEFORE BUYING
A MICRO.
1. Is it easy to use?
2. Are the programs versatile?
3. Is it absolutely reliable?
4. Does it have a national network of
distributors and dealers offering
full service and support?
5. Is it competitively priced?
6. Can you see proof of performance?
With the new Adler Alphatronic the answer is 'yes' to all
these questions. Because Alphatronic is the micro that was
specially designed for the small businessman. To cut paperwork,
cope with accounts, payroll, stock control, VAT — and generally
make business, and cash, flow more smoothly. When it comes to
versatility, price, reliability and performance, Alphatronic is
outstanding value.
The Alphatronic PI costs £1600* and includes a 2000
character screen, keyboard, integral double density floppy
disk unit and CP/M I disk and manual. Alphatronic P2 complete
includes 2000 character screen, keyboard, two integral double
density floppy disk units together with a dot-matrix printer,
CP/M f disk and manual and costs £2345. *
* Prices exclusive of VAT + Trade mark of Digital Research Corp.
Printer not included on PI model at £1600.
FREE
With model PI: a two disk basic teach-in course worth £85.
With model P2: a two disk data retrieval program worth £120.
Send back the coupon and well tell you how Alphatronic
could be the answer — your answer.
alphaTronic
ADLER'S NEW £1600 MICRO. BRILLIANTLY SIMPLE ALPHATRONIC.
Alphatronic Division, TRIUMPH ADLER (UK) LTD.
(formerly Adler Business Systems Ltd.)
27 Goswell Road, London EC1M 7AJ. Tel: 01 -250 1717.
Please send me further details on the Adler Alphatronic.
Name.
Company.
Address
Tele
Telephone
PCW/11/81
IBS 81 October 20-29. Hall 4 Stand 321.
PCW 11
&
TRS-80 SOFTWARE
FROM THE PROFESSIONALS
XTENDED
Extended Basic from Snapp Inc. is, in our opinion, the best add on utility to the Basic Interpreters for the
Model III and Model II TRS-80 machines that is available on the market at the moment. It incorporates into the
Interpreter, commands which hitherto have had to be loaded in separate utilities, indeed some of the commands,
to the best of our knowledge, are not even available in other utilities. What must be emphasised is that these
modifications to the Interpreter are entirely transparent to the user, they literally patch the Interpreter and
become an integral part of it. The enhancements unfortunately are too lengthy to explain in detail in this
advertisement, but briefly they add the following functions:
Single keystroke commands to:
List first line of program
List last line of program
List previous line of program
List next line of program
Edit current line
List current line
Ten single keystroke abbreviations are provided for the Basic commands:
AUTO CLS DELETE EDIT KILL
LIST MERGE NEW LLLIST SAVE
Cross Reference
A complete cross reference utility with output either to the screen or to the printer listing all line
numbers in which numeric or string variables are held. The reference may be to all variables or individual
ones.
Dump Utility
A dump utility to direct to the display or printer the variables used in the program together with their
current values.
Renumbering
A renumber utility. This is a sophisticated renumbering facility permitting not only renumbering, but
also the relocation and duplication of blocks of code. It also has a higher speed execution than the present
renumbering routine in the Interpreter.
String or Keyword Cross Reference
This utility will find and cross reference all keywords (commands) in the program together with, and
probably most importantly, strings. That is to say, it is possible to find the whereabouts of specific words in
the text of the program. Output is to the screen or to the printer.
Compression Utility
This utility takes a Basic program and compresses it in a number of different ways including merging
multiple statements into single lines. Compressed programs typically will occupy 30-40% less memory space
and run 7-10% faster.
In addition to the above, the Model III version adds single step entry into Basic (similar to LDOSor NEWDOS)
together with the ability to recover accidentally “deleted” Basic programs.
Model III.£67.50
Model II.£94.50
Both exclusive of V.A.T. No P. & P.
TRS-80 & VIDEO GENIE SOFTWARE CATALOGUE £1 .00 [refundable] plus 50p postage.
MOLIMERX LTD.
m
A. J. HARDING (MOLIMERX)
1 BUCKHURST ROAD, TOWN HALL SQUARE,
BEXHILL-ON-SEA, EAST SUSSEX.
TEL: [0424] 220391 / 223636 TELEX 86736 SOTEX G
VISA
PCW12
TRS-80 SOFTWARE
FROM THE PROFESSIONALS
First there were the TRSDOS’s, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3. Then came Newdos-*-, essentially a patched version of the TRSDOS's but with a
number of very useful commands and utilities added. Then VTOS 3.0 and VTOS 4.0. These constituted a departure from the earlier DOS's
and featured Device Independence so that devices such as the keyboard, printer, VDU and disk drives could interact directly together. Then
came Newdos80 which is a rewrite of Newdos + , adding new utilities and new Basic commands, its main features being the ability to mix
different capacity drives on the same cable and the ability to use variable length records. Now from LOBO International comes LDOS, the
fifth generation disk operating system for the TRS-80 microcomputer It combines most of the advantages of the preceding disk operating
systems and unlike some of them, is accompanied by a complete and readable set of documentation, which includes a Technical Section
containing relevant addresses.
It is impossible to describe all
as follows: —
of the features
of LDOS in an advertisement
For instance it includes no less than 35
library commands
APPEND
COPY
DEVICE
DIR
DO
FILTER
KILL
LIB
LINK
LIST
LOAD
MEMORY
RENAME
RESET
ROUTE
RUN
SET
SPOOL
ATRIB
AUTO
BOOT
BUILD
CLOCK
CREATE
DATE
DEBUG
DUMP
FREE
PROT
PURGE
SYSTEM
TIME
TRACE
VERIFY
XFER
All of the useful abbreviations in Newdos are included and the System Commands in Basic (CMD) now number eleven. A program
called LBASIC/FIX is included, with which the normal TRSDOS Disk Basic may be patched to include a number of new commands and
features. A Job Control Language is included and in fact is one of the most powerful features of LDOS. It allows the user to compile a
sequence of commands or key strokes for later execution as a chain, with or without user intervention. There are too many new features to
list them herein, but examples are: The ability to provide an audible signal, output through the cassette port. To flash or blink a one line
message on the video display. A WAIT feature is included so that the machine can be put into a ‘ sleep” state until such time as the system
clock matches the time specified. And so on!
Hard disks in addition to single/double density, single/double sided, 8" and 5V4" floppies are supported although they may, of course,
require hardware modifications. Utilities included in the package are:
BACKUP COMMAND FILE FORMAT LCOMM
PATCH RS232 KEY STROKE/MULTIPLIER PRINTER FILTER
A Basic Renumber facility is included, as is a Basic Cross Reference function. Both are similar to the ones in Newdos + and Newdos80.
Most of the utilities are library commands which were existent in the previous DOS’s, have been improved with the addition of new
functions or facilities.
The prime development team of LDOS consisted of no less than 8 first rank programmers and they had the support and advice of six
other well known programmers. They have done an excellent job to bring to the user what must be the best disk operating system so far
produced for a microcomputer, which is destined to become the Standard DOS.
LDOS is totally upward compatible with TRSDOS, that is to say LDOS will be able to copy files and programs from TRSDOS disks onto
LDOS formatted disks. As they are competitive disk operating systems, it is not suprising that the manual states that disks created under
Newdos are not guaranteed to be compatible with LDOS, but we have net experienced any difficulty. We have done some work on
investigating the compatibility of LDOS and the Video Genie and at the time of going to press we have found no incompatibilities. LDOS
appears to run on the Video Genie without any problems at all. LDOS is compatible with either the Tandy or Electric Pencil lowercase
modifications and Scripsit. LDOS is available for the Model I and Model III. A Model II version will be available shortly.
LDOS.£85.00 plus VATand £1.50 P&P.
m
TRS-80 & VIDEO GENIE SOFTWARE CATALOGUE El .00 [refundable] plus 50p postage.
MOLIMERX LTD.
A. J. HARDING (MOLIMERX)
1 BUCKHURST ROAD, TOWN HALL SQUARE,
BEXHILL-ON-SEA, EAST SUSSEX.
TEL: [0424] 220391/223636 TELEX 86736 SOTEX G
PCW13
A complete, portable computer
system from Hewlett-Packard.
What more can we add?
Business sense!
You’ll recognise the unmistakably compact lines of the HP-85-the
friendly, typewriter-sized personal computer with built-in printer,
VDU and tape drive. And you’d be excused for thinking you’re
looking at an exceptionally comprehensive, but ultimately limited,
standalone computer. You’d be wrong! For even more remarkable
than the capability Hewlett-Packard have built into the HP-85 is
the business system they’ve built around it.
Here’s the HP personal computer system with the business sense
you need to help you to a better-informed management control
and a higher personal productivity.
First, choose your personal computer -either the well
established HP-85 or the new low-cost HP-83. Both form the ideal
nucleus of an affordable, expandable personal business system.
Next, start building your system- Add HP’s full-scale,
compatible peripherals: flexible disc drives to provide you with
fast access into large volumes of data; an impact printer, a full-
colour graphics plotter.. .And, if you ever need more power, simply
plug it in with add-on ROMs and modules.
Now, give your system the business sense you need
-by selecting from Hewlett-Packard’s comprehensive and still
growing range of professional software. For planning budgets,
creating forecasts, modifying projections, financial planning,
organising data and even generating mailing lists. Software
packages such as VisiCalcr PLUS allow dynamic and immediate
analysis of data and projections using the “what if’ facility as well
as automatic and fast recalculation capabilities... Like the
Series 80 Graphics Presentation Pac, which lets you prepare
professional, presentation-standard graphs, charts and overhead
transparencies straight off the computer... Like the HP
Information Management Pac, a complete, powerful and flexible
system for managing your data files.
When you build your complete personal business system around
an HP computer, you can promise yourself not only the long-term
reliability for which Hewlett-Packard are renowned, but the
assurance that your entire system can be serviced and cared for on
site by the same business computer professionals who designed it.
HP personal computers, and the business sense that goes with
them, are available now from your HP dealer. Ask him for a
demonstration.
*VisiCalc is a trademark of Personal Software Inc.
HEWLETT
PACKARD
Contact your nearest dealer for a demonstration:
Aberdeen Tyseal Office Equipment Ltd, Tel: 29019. Belfast Cardiac Services, Tel: 625566. Birmingham John Mahon Assoc., Tel: 643 6351. Microdigital, Tel: 632 6303
Bournemouth South Coast Computers, Tel: Wimborne 893040 Brighton Office Machinery Engineering, Tel: 689682 Bristol Decimal Business Machines, Tel: 214093.
Cambridge Cambridge Computer Store, Tel: 65334. Hi-Tek Distribution Ltd, Tel: 81996. Chester Microdigital,Tel: 317667. Dublin Abacus Systems, Tel: 711966.
Edinburgh Business & Electronic Machines, Tel: 226 4294. Robox Office Equipment Ltd, Tel: 225 3871. Holdene, Tel: 668 2727. Glasgow Robox, Tel: 221 8413/4.
Leeds Holdene, Tel: 459459. Leicester Sumlock Services,Tel: 29673. Leighton Buzzard Co-ordinated Computer Systems, Tel: Heath & Reach 581/2. Lichfield Anglo-American, Tel: 481042.
Liverpool Microdigital, Tel: 227 2535/6/7. Rockliff Brothers, Tel: 521 5830. London Euro-Calc, Tel: 739 6484, 636 8161, 405 3113; Sumlock-Bondain, Tel: 250 0505,626 0487, 388 5702;
The Xerox Store, Tel: 405 5659,629 0694, 588 1531 Manchester Automated Business Equipment, Tel: 432 0708. Holdene, Tel: Wilmslow 529486. Microdigital, Tel: 832 6087.
Newcastle Thos Hill International, Tel: 739261. Newport Micromedia Systems, Tel: 59276. Reading CSE Computers, Tel: 61492; Sintrom Electronics, Tel: 85464.
Royston (Herts) Electroplan, Tel: 41171. Sheffield Microdigital, Tel: 750977. Slough Crellon Electronics Ltd, Tel: Burnham 4300 Southampton South Coast Business Machines, Tel: 22958.
Sunderland Thos Hill International, Tel: 42447. Tunbridge Wells 1). J. Herriott, Tel: 22443/4. Wallingford Midas Advisory Services, Tel: 36773.
Watford Automatic & Electronic Calculators, Tel: 31571 Woking Petalect Electronic Services,Tel: 69032 Worthing Office Machinery Engineering, Tel: 207292
CHANNEL ISLANDS: Absolute Electronic Systems, Tel: Jersey 77070
PCW 14
COBOL the language of
business.
The language of Micro Focus
Our CIS COBOL product
family brings you the
most successful business
programming tool ever
devised, COBOL, in a form
optimized for today’s most
cost effective hardware, the
microcomputer. Standard COBOL
as defined by ANSI X3.23-1974.
The reliability and performance of CIS
COBOL are strongly emphasized by its’
continued qualification for U.S.
government contracts. In January 1981
CIS COBOL entered its 2nd year of G.S.A.
certification.
CIS COBOL is powerful but simple to use.
Its screenhandling, dynamic module
loading and fast ISAM let you take full
benefit from micro computer facilities.
Our FORMS-2 utility is a COBOL source
code generator to help you build
interactive applications with ease. Using
our unique demonstration “How to create
a COBOL program in 20 minutes,” you can
quickly try out new application ideas.
And if you are developing software for
resale, the variety of systems running CIS
COBOL offers you a very large available
market.
MICRO
FOCUS
CIS COBOL and FORMS -2 are trademarks ofMicro Focus.8080isa trade¬
mark of Intel Corp, Z80 ofZilog, LSI-11 and PDP-11 of Digital Equipment
Corp, Apple II of Apple Computer, Soft card of Microsoft Consumer
Products, CP/M of Digital Research and UNIX of Bell Laboratories.
CIS COBOL and
FORMS-2 are available
through our dealers
and distributors for many
8080, Z80 and LSI-11 systems
including Apple II with Softcard
and CP/M.
For OEM purchase on 8086, PDP-11,
UNIX and other order codes approach us
direct. Our system transfer technology
has made CIS COBOL first on a number of
processors and enabled us to interface to
30 different operating systems.
For more information about CIS COBOL
fill in the coupon below.
To: Micro Focus Ltd, David Murray John Tower,
Brunei Centre, Swindon, Wilts., SN11NB.
Tel: 0793 695891 (Sales Dept.)
Please send me
I I A brochure on CIS COBOL
I | A brochure on FORMS-2
□ A set of Applications Notes
.(Qty) CIS COBOL manual(s) at £37.50
(inc. p+p) for which I enclose a cheque
for £.
My chief interest is in; (please tick box)
□ 8080
□ 8086
□ UNIX
□ Apple II
Name.
Position.
Company.
Address.
Tel No.
PCW 15
If you prefer the better
things in life then you're
going to like the new
..
Micro
Epson MX80 New Type 2 £465 + VAT
8
BMC 14”
Green Screen
£180 + VAT
RGB Colour
version
available
Micro 8
(keyboard unit)
£995 + vat
| MXOOFT
The Micro-8 is a new generation of microcomputer incorporating the very latest in technology.
Based on the new 8 bit 6809 microprocessor (utilises 16 bit internal architecture and Micro-8
uses 2 of them!) along with its Z80 microprocessor (CP/M capability) and high resolution colour
graphics the Micro-8 is ideal for all those discerning users, business, educational and hobbyist alike.
Just look at all these STAN DA RD features which for most micros are expensive add on’s or even
just not available
*Utilises 2 x 6809 MPU *64k RAM *Comp Video & RGB output *High Resolution Colour
Graphics 640 x 200 *48k Video RAM *Mixable high & low res. screens *Soft select 40 column
or 80 column screen *10 user defined function keys *Duplex RS232 port *Parallei printer port
*Real Time clock/interupt timer Comprehensive curser and edit control keys *Graphics cursor
Draw and plot with Cartesian card o/p *Z80 MPU.
Utilises 32k extended Microsoft Basic with all the standard commands plus the following:-
AUTO, RENUM, MERGE, TROFF, TRON, EXEC, HARDC, BUBINI, DEFFN, DEFUSR, DEFINT, IF-THEN —ELSE (Multiple),
ON ERROR GOTO, RESUME, UNLIST, PAIN, CIRCLE, CONNECT, SYMBOL, GCURSOR, PRINTUSING, DSKOs, BUBO,
BUBI, KEYLIST, FIX, CSNG, POINT, VARPTR, TIMEs, DAT Es, DSKs, ANPORT, HEXs, FEFTs, OCTs, STRs, STRINGs, XOR
IMP MOD, ON TIME GOSUB, IN INTERVAL GOSUB, CSNG, CDBL, CINT.
Operating systems include:- ucsd pascal, flex, cp/m, running, Basic, Fortran, Pascal.
Future expansions include:- ^bubble memory *modem *sound synth. and many more.
fnnliterr©
56 Queens Road, Basingstoke, Hants. Address
Tel: 0256 54057/56417 (4 lines)'* .
m
To: Micro 8 Ltd., 56 Queens Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire.
Please send me details of the amazing new Micro 8.
Name.Company .
PCW11
NEW books from
Prentice-Hall International
Seamus Dunn and Valerie Morgan
THE
PERSONAL COMPUTER
FOR BEGINNERS
Written for beginners with no experience of computers,
this complete introduction to the Commodore PET gives a very
clear explanation of how to operate the PET and make full use
of this versatile machine. Eleven compact, carefully
sequenced chapters provide detailed descriptions of the PET's
different facilities. Each step required to operate the PET is
illustrated with sample programs and screen responses.
The book is suitable for all versions of the PET, from the original
2001 to the new 8032 SuperPET.
□ £7.50 hardback 256 pages 13-661835-9
Q£4.95 paperback 13-661827-8 October 1981
Ramon Zamora, William Scarvie and Bob Albrecht
A Commodore Approved Product
PET BASIC 1
Creative graphics, open page formats and interesting small
programs are among the topics covered in this new hand¬
book.
□ £1 3.45 hardback
| ^j£9.70 paperback
224 pages 8359-5525-7
8359-5524-9 August 1981
Howard Berenbon
Mostly BASIC: Applications for Your PET
Full chapters are included on real-time applications,
educational programs, business investment and home
applications.
i ^j£7.65 paperback 160 pages 672-21790-2
March 1981
Mac Ogelsby
PET Games and Recreation
The activities in this book range from the simple to complex
games of deductive reasoning, games of chance, and word
and number games.
EJfl 3.45 hardback 248 pages 8359-5530-3
I J £9.70 paperback 8359-5529-X September 1 981
J. Downey and S. Rogers
PET Interfacing
This practical book explains how specialised interfaces
can be built and used with the PET. Three types of inter¬
facing are covered: the user port, the memory expansion
port, and the IEEE 488 port.
j ^]£11.85 paperback 262 pages 672-21795-3
July 1981
Richard Gauthier
Using the UNIX System
A full description of the UNIX System, which was designed
for both program development and software applications,
is given in this book. Topics discussed include a hierarchical
file system, asynchronous processing, over 100 sub¬
systems and utilities, and languages such as FORTRAN 77,
FORTRAN VI, PASCAL, BASIC and C.
I—I £14.20 hardback 298 pages 8359-8164-9
October 1 981
Prices are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject
to change.
Book Orders:
These books can be ordered from your bookseller or in case of
difficulty from Department 30, Prentice-Hall International, 66
Wood Lane End, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4RG, England.
Please mark the number of books you wish to order in the boxes
beside each title and return the advertisement to the address
above with your payment.
Name
Address
I enclose a cheque/P.O. for£-
Please add 55p per book for postage and packing. Payment should
be made out to International Book Distributors. Please allow 28
days for delivery.
Prentice Hall
PCW11
International
PCW17
SUPERBRAIN
GW Computers Ltd
CALLERS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
LONDON WC1. TEL NO. 636 8210/631 4818
COMPUSTAR
Intelligent Video Terminal Systems
350K or 700K of Disk Storage
SuperBrain's CP/M operating system boasts an over¬
whelming amount of available software in BASIC,
FORTRAN, COBAL and APL. Whatever your
application' ... General Ledger, Accounts
Receivable, Payroll, Inventory or Word Processing,
SuperBrain is top in its class. And the SuperBrain QD
boasts the same powerful performance but also
features a double-sided drive system to render more
than 700K bytes of disk storage and a full 64K or
RAM. All standard!
Functional characteristics
The CompuStar 10 megabyte Disk Storage System (DSS) consists of
read/write and control electronics, read/write heads, a track position¬
ing mechanism, a spindle drive mechanism, dual disks, an air fil¬
tration system, and our exclusive 255 user controller - all packaged
in a compact desktop enclosure. Although designed primarily to
accommodate multiple CompuStar Video Processing Units (described
at left), the unit can easily be connected to a single SuperBrain Video
Computer System to facilitate additional disk storage. When used
with CompuStar VDUs, however, the integral Z80 based controller
will permit up to 255 users to "share" the resources of the disk with
minimal CPU response degradation.
Read/Write Heads and Disks
The recording media consists of a lubricated thin magnetic oxide
coating on a 200mm diameter aluminium substrate. This coating for¬
mulation, together with the low load force/low mass Winchester type
flying heads, permits reliable contact start/stop operation. Data on
each disk surface is read by one read/write head, each of which
accesses 256 tracks.
*** D/SIM ***
(DETERMINISTIC SIMULATOR)
01 = FILE RELATED TASKS
02=FUNCTION TABLES
03=MAT HE MAT ICS
04=COMPUTE FUNCTIONS
05=AUTOMATIC PROCESSES
SELECT ?
06=VOCABULARY SECTION
07=SET RECORD FORMS
08=FIELD ATTRIBUTES
09=PRINT FORMAT
10=DISK SWAP
A NEW MODELLING PROGRAM. TOTALLY IN CORE. PROVIDESTHE ABILITY TO TABULATE FINANCIAL (AS WELL AS
OTHER) DATA AND THEN PROCESSTHE DATA UNDER CERTAIN ALTERNATIVE CONDITIONS. SET-UP INITIAL CONDITIONS
OF A GIVEN SITUATION AND EVALUATE THE CONSEQUENCES UNDER A GIVEN LOGICAL MODEL. ALTER THE CONDITIONS
AND EVALUATE POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE CONSEQUENCES BEFORE TAKING ACTION.
PRICE (195.00) MAIL ORDER OR 250.00 WITH TRAINING. (MANUAL 20.00)
GRAMA (WINTER) LTD/G.W. COMPUTERS LTD. ARE THE PRODUCERS OF THIS PACKAGE WHICH IS UNEQUALLED FOR ITS
LEVEL OF TOTAL INTEGRATION, LINGUISTIC FLEXIBlLITY AND MAXIMISED DISK/MEMORY CONSERVATION.
AUTHOR TONY WINTER (M.D.;B.A.LIT;B.A. HON. PHIL;AND LECTURER)
TWO TYPICAL PACKAGE DEALS.
01-SUPERBRAIN 64K RAM 320 K
02-EPSON MX80 FT (OR SIMILAR)
03-CABLE
04-12 MONTH WARRANTY
05-DELIVERY IN U.K.
06-TRAINING SESSION
07-CPM HANDBOOK
08-50 BASIC EXERCISES
09-BOX PAPER (2000 SHEETS)
10-DBMS (DATABASE)
11 -WORD-STAR (ELSEWHERE 250)
12- MBASIC-80
13- SUPER CALC
14- 40 MEMOREX DISKETTES
15- DOS+ AND DIAGNOSTICS
16- MSORT & DSORT
17- RECOVER (ERASED FILES)
18- INSTANT BASIC
(NOT INC VAT)
OUR PRICE **** 2950.00
NORMALLY
1950.00
450.00
25.00
235.00
40.00
50.00
8.75
8.75
20.00
475.00
190.00
150.00
125.00
114.00
125.00
75.00
25.00
9.00
4075.50
01-SUPERBRAIN 64K RAM 700K
02-NEC 5510 (OR SIMILAR)
03-CABLE ADAPTER
04-12 MONTH WARRANTY
05-DELIVERY IN U.K.
06-TRAINING SESSION
07-CPM HANDBOOK
08-50 BASIS EXERCISES
09-BOX PAPER (2000 SHEETS)
10- DBMS (DATABASE)
11- WORD STAR (ELSEWHERE 250)
12- MBASIC-80
1 ^-91JPFR PA I P
14- 25 DYSAN D/SIDE DISKETTES
15- DOS+AND DIAGNOSTICS
16- MSORT & DSORT
17- RECOVER (ERASED FILES)
18- INSTANT BASIC
NORMALLY
2395.00
1695.00
25.00
410.00
50.00
50.00
8.75
8.75
20.00
475.00
190.00
150.00
125.00
150.00
125.00
75.00
25.00
9.00
(NOT INC VAT)
OUR PRICE
4850.00
5985.50
WARRANTY NOTE: WE HANDLE ALL REPAIRS OURSELVES. WARRANTY COVERS FREE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT IF
DEFECTIVE IN FIRST THREE WEEKS. THEREAFTER UPTO 12 MONTHSTHE COVER PROVIDES INSURANCE ON ALL
SPARE PARTS AND LABOUR COSTS (EXCLUDING CARRIAGE). CALL OUT MAI NTAI NANCE IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT 25.C
MINIMUM (LONDON) 50.00 MINIMUM ELSEWHERE IN U.K. PLUS MILEAGE.
CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS ONLY: 55 BEDFORD
COURT MANSIONS, BEDFORD AVENUE, LONDON WC1.
18PCW
*#*
BUS ***
(BUSINESS EFFICIENCY)
WIDELY USED IN UK/FRANCE/USA AND ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES FOR ITS
OVERALL FLEXIBILITY AS A COMPLETE BUSINESS PACKAGE.
Includes Inventory, Database, Management, Invoicing, Mailing Addresses, Statements, Sales/Purchase Ledger
with or without Auto Stock Update and Double Entry Journals including Nominal Ledger; plus A'C Receivable
and Payable making Auto Bank entries.
01 = NAMES AND ADDRESS
02=STOCK CONTROL
03=OPEN SALES LEDGER
04=OPENPURCHASE LEDGER
05=GENERAL SALES LEDGER
06=GENERAL PURCHASE LEDGER
07=BANK UPDATE
13=STATEMENTS
08=USER DATABASE AREA
14=TAX REPORTS
09=INVOICE CREATION
15=AGED ANALYSIS
10=ORDER FILES
16=MAN AGE ME NT ANALYSIS
11 =TEXT FILES
17=CASHFLOW FORECAST
12=EMPLOYEE FILES
18=PARAMETER SECTION
19=DIARY REMINDER
20=COMPUTE FUNCTIONS (+)
21=FILE MAINTAINANCE
22=CALL OTHER PROGRAMS
23=AUTOMATIC DRIVE (+)
24=DISK SWAP/EXIT SYSTEM
WHICH OPTION
SUB MENU EXAMPLES:
>Quit or .Random or .Sequential or .Key sorted field or .Other functions
>Quit or .All or .Part or .Specific
>Quit or .Fast screen or .Slow screen or .Rapid print or .Pausing print
>Quit or .Continue or .Amend or .Delete or .Print
>Quit or .Double entry or .Alter filename or .Echo input or .Print options
>Quit or .Mail ticket or .Columnated or .Raw data line
>Quit or .Add or .Subtract or .Multiply or .Divide
>Quit or .Greater or .Smaller or .Cross refer two files
(LEVEL 8.00 @ 975.00)
(LEVEL 9.00 @ 1075.00)
+++++++ SUPER - BUS +++++++ A NEW HIGHER LEVEL OF THE ABOVE PACKAGE_HAS BEEN REDUCED IN SIZE BY
50 PER CENT TO A SINGLE 15K BASIC PROGRAM, MAKING ALL FILE RETRIEVALS A MATTER OF NANOSECONDS. WORKS
UNDER M/PM ANOCOMPUSTAR FOR COMMON DATA RETRIEVAL LEVEL 10.00 .... ***** 1475.00 *****
DBMS (DATABASE) HAS 01 = ,02=,04=;06=,07=,08=;17=;18=;21=;24=. PRICE 475.00
DATABASE FEATURES ARE:.FOR ANY SIZE RECORD UP TO TWENTY FOUR FIELDS FILE ARCHITECTURES CAN BE DESIGNED
WITH COMPLETE FREEDOM OVER THE LINGUISTIC CONVENTIONS ASSIGNED TO EACH FIELD. THE FILE THEN CAN STORE 32000
RECORDS WHICH CAN BE SEARCHED BY THE RANDOM ACCESS NUMBER (RETRIEVED IN LESS THAN ONE SECOND) OR 'KEY'
RANDOM ACCESS ON SPECIFIED FIELD OR SEQUENTIALLY COMPARING FOR LEFT FIELD PARTS, FIELD-INKEYS OR PARTS OF
RECORD, AND THEN CHANGED, PRINTED, DELETED, SKIPPED.
A
GRAMA (WINTER) LTD/G.W. COMPUTERS LTD. ARE THE PRODUCERS OF THIS PACKAGE WHICH IS UNEQUALLED FOR ITS LEVEL OF
TOTAL INTEGRATION, LINGUISTIC FLEXIBILITY AND MAXIMISED DISK/MEMORY CONSERVATION
AUTHOR TONY WINTER (M.D.;B.A.LIT;B.A.HON.PHIL;AND LECTURER)
DUE TO LONG TERM CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS, WE ARFDNLY GIVING RESTRICTED
DEMONSTRATIONS BY APPOINTMENT AT ONE OF OUR LONDON OFFICES. WE EXPORT TO ALL
COUNTRIES, TAKE AMEXCO, ACCESS AND BARCLAYCARD.
CONTACT TONY WINTER ON 01.636.8210 OR 01.631.4818 AND IF UNAVAILABLE THEN LEAVE A
CALL-BACK MESSAGE (CLEARLY STATING YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND NAME) ON THE
24-HOUR ANSWER-PHONE, WE CALL BACK ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
IMPORTANT!!! No hardware is any value without the software, and our software is unequalled. We give you a
discount to set you going. Just decide on the system you intend purchasing, and take 10% of its value off the price
you would have to pay for the software. You could get the software free with the hardware if you choose the best
system we sell.
' SUPERBRAIN * SUPERBRAIN
/
COMPUSTAR * COMPUSTAR
/
PRINTER * PRINTER
64K + 320 K DISK
1950.00
/
64K MDL 10 VPU
1 695.00
/
OKI MICRO-80
425.00
64K + 700 K DISK
2395.00
/
64K MDL 15 PRNT
1595.00
/
OKI MICRO-83
795.00
64K +6.3 M DISK
4595.00
/
64K MDL 20 VPU
2495.00
/
EPSON MX80F/T
450.00
EMULATOR TERML
495.00
/
64K MDL 30 VPU
2695.00
/
TEXAS 810
1395.00
INTERTUBE III TML
495.00
/
64K MDL 40 VPU
2995.00
/
DIABLO 630
1595.00
5 MEG CORVUS. DISK
2250.00
/
10 MEG INTERTEC
2950.00
/
NEC 5530
1595.00
11 MEG CORVUS
3250.00
/
32 MED INTERTEC
7950.00
/
NEC 5510
1695.00
CORDLESS PHONES
135.00
/
96 MEG INTERTEC
8500.00
/
NEC 5525
1895.00
HIGH RES S/B GRAPH
750.00
/
BUS PROGRAM
975.00
/
QUME 5/55
1950.00
TRACTORS
150.00
/
BUS MANUAL
9.00
/
SHEET FEED
850.00
SHUGART 5 MEG DSK
, 1250.00
S100 CONTROLLER
750.00
CP.M (TM)
FREE.00
SYSTEM 1
2750.00
T
SYSTEM 2
4595.00
T
SYSTEM 3
5750.00
64K+750 K DISK
/
64K +6.3 MEG CORVUS
1
64K + 10 MEG
CRT AND SI 00 BUS
/
MICRO-WINCHESTER & CRT
/
CRT AND TWIN 5"
IN 1 'ARCHIVES' UNIT
/
IN 1 'SUPERBRAIN' UNIT
/
IN 1 MODEL 30 UNIT
MBASIC 80
150.00
/
FORTRAN-80
200.00
1
COBOL-80
320.00
CIS COBOL
420.00
l
PASCAL UCSD
275.00
/
WORD-STAR
195.00
MAIL MERGE
55.00
l
SUPER SORT
120.00
/
CBASIC
75.00
DATASTAR
190.00
/
BASCOMPILER
190.00
/
MAGIC WAND
175.00
DBMS (DATABASE)
195.00
l
SUPER CALC (CPM)
125.00
/
T/MAKER
150.00
DBMS (EXTENDED)
475.00
/
BUS VER 8.00
975.00
/
BUS VER 9.00
1075.00
MSORT & DSORT
75.00
/
LETTERIGHT
100.00
/
UTILITIES
75.00
OUR PRICE INCLUDES FREE:
/
10% ALLOWANCES AGAINST
ANY SOFTWARE ABOVE
TRAINING SESSION
/
DELIVERY
1
5-50 DISKS *******
CABLES
/
6/12 MTH WARRANTY
/
24/48 HOUR REPAIR
EXTENDED WARRANTY IF REQD
/
RIBBONS& THIMBLES
/
MANUALS
CPM HANDBOOK
/
BASIC MANUAL
/
2000 SHEETS PAPER
IF YOU WISH TO MAKE THE WARRANTY TO 1 YEAR THEN ADD 5% OF HARDWARE COST. OTHERWISE NO MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULE, SIMPLY AD-HOC CHARGES AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION, SAME QUALITY SERVICE. _
DOS + AND DIAGNOSTICS FOR SUPERBRAIN SPECIAL .... 125.00 .REPEAT KEY AUTO-LOAD, RAM CHIP TEST,
FAST FORMAT BOTH DRIVES, FAST COPY TRACK TO TRACK TPU TEST, RS232 TEST, SCREEN TEST DISK TEST (VARI-
O US), DISK I/O TEST. _
MAIL ADDRESS G.W. COMPUTERS LTD. 55 BEDFORD COURT MANS. BEDFORD AVENUE. W.C.1.
******************************** ***********
*********************
********************************
DUE TO LONG TERM CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO GIVE RESTRICTED
APPOINTMENTS AT ONE OF OUR LONDON OFFICES. CONTACT TONY WINTER ON TELS 01.636.8210
AND 01.631.4818. ALSO 24 HOUR ANSWERPHONE. IF YOU JUST WANT LITERATURE THEN CLEARLY
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, WE WILL MAIL YOU A STANDARD INFORMATION PACK.
PCW 19
GW Computers Ltd
CALLERS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
LONDON WC1. TEL NO. 636 8210/631 4818
★ ★★ Introducing the new Bus10.00/Dbms2 ★★★
If you are interested enough to study this section of our new manual, then you are probably in need of a program
embodying such features. If you understand the text, that is, if at least its meaning is a touchstone that fires your
imagination towards grasping it with the mind then you and it are converging.
*** MULTIPLE FIELD SEARCHES ***
dbms2 and buslO.OO
The following trajectory of a file interrogation may be set up and found to be both complex and of considerable power.
Try a Sequential search that is Slow and on Multiple fields within a range say of record '1 to 30'.
Notice that the cursor prompter will move to the first field in the record form. You will be able to ask any of the
following types of questions on each field. When you set the question against that field; if the carriage return is not
enabled by the fact that you hit the right-hand-field-bracket, then hit (cr).
There are five types of questions you may ask against a permutation of up to sixteen fields. (Think about them).
1=straight text identity (P=P) which is to say that you can enter TONY in a name search where the record may look
like TONY WINTER or WINTER TONY, the 'TONY' text is sought for in any part of the field.
2 =t Greater than identity (P>Q) which is to say that you may first enter the symbol > followed by a numeric value (say
100) where the records may possess different ranges of numbers in that field, and you only want 100 upwards.
3 M Smal!er than identity (P<Q) as '2=' above in reverse using <.
4-Not identical (POQ) which is to say that all records found on other criteria must not possess the stated attribute.
(ie: all records with TONY but not in W.C.1.). You must first enter the symbol ~ followed by the criteria that is to be
excluded from the comparison.
5*Either or identity (P~Q) which is to say that you may search for either TONY or someone in W.C.1. or telephones with
a 01 in their number. Note: that only one match of those disjunctive premisses is sufficient to provide the truth condition
establishing a match. That is to say you may find records of TONY in Birmingham and FRED in W.C.1. You must first
Field 01=number
( )
) The question is: ?
Field 02=name
(TONY
) straight text (cr)
Field 03=postcode
(“W.C.1.
) one or
Field 04=town
(~London
) other
Field 05=income
05000
)
greater 5000
Field 06=age
«40 )
younger than 40
Field 07=sex
("female )
Q2-Q25
not female
*** MULTIPLE FIELD ATTRIBUTES ***
dbms2 and buslO.OO
The following is a list of the field attribute arithmetic functions that may be set up against up to 16 fields per record and
found to be both complex and of considerable power.
fn1=Multiply one field against another and total per record/file. fn3=Divide one field from another and total per record/file.
fn2=Add one field against another and total per record/file. fn4=Subtract one field by another and total per record/file.
fn5=Total vertical columns within a file of records. The result per record and per file.
fn6=Calculate a percentage of the value of one field and if the toggle is set to 1 then add that result to the field; whereas
if the toggle is set to -1 then simply store the result.
Example: record.5.computed values.
_!_ record.file.
Field 01 =number
(5 )
Field 02=number
(MICRO )
Field 03=quantity
(50 )
[ 50,000.00 ]
[ 70,000.00 1
Field 04 =s.price
(1000.00 )
[ 150.00 i
[ 170.001
Field 05=profit
(250.00 )
[ .25 1
[ .27 1
Field 06=cost
(800.00 )
[ 1,000.00]
[ 1,145.00]
Field 07=allocated
(20 )
[ 30.00 1
[ 450.00 ]
The two results to the right of the record show the use of several of the functions listed above.
Field 03 function 1 (03 * 04) has a value of 50,000.00 pounds worth of 'MICROS' for the number '5' and 70,000.00
pounds worth of for all such records so far scanned.
Field 04 functions 6 'toggle —1' (04 * .15) has the increase that is required to raise the price of record '5' by 15%, and so
on averaging for all such records.
Field 05 function 3 (05 / 04) has the value of itself divided by the value found in field 04, for the record and all such
records scanned, (profit margin ?).
Field 06 function 6 'toggle 1' (06 * 1.25) has the value of record '5' as if it were subject to an increase of 25%, and all
such records scanned.
Field 07 functions 4 (03 - 07) has the quantity remaining in stock after allocations are subtracted.
You have a combination of multiple field searches of 5 TYPES and multiple compute functions of 10 TYPES against up
to 16 fields, using words you choose and printing only those columns in the order you desire in one SINGLE CORE
PROGRAM. 02—026
contact: G.W. COMPUTERS LTD.
55 BEDFORD COURT MANSIONS. BEDFORD AVENUE LONDON W.C.1.
TEL. 01-636 8210/01-631 4818 TELEX 892031 TWC G
Also incorporated in Boston U.S.A.
BUS PROGRAM MANUAL VERSION 8.00-10.00 AND DBMS (SUBSET OF ABOVE)
AUTHOR: TONY WINTER B.A.LIT:B.A.HON.PHIL. AND LECTURER
20PCW
GRAMA WINTER CALLERS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
LONDON WC1. TEL NO. 636 8210/631 4818
lAYflEBUftU SPEAKEASY
• Speech output for any Micro can be used
with the Acorn, Pet, ZX81, Apple, NSH etc.
• Uses Phoneme Access to produce clear
and true speech
• Has INFINITE Vocabulary
• Comes complete with PSU and speaker
• Software and Manual included
£89
only 1.0^ + VAT
-PQ
Extra Dictionary £2.50 + VAT P + P £4.50 + VAT
m/iftx
TYPE’ N TALK
text to speech synthesizer. Connects into any RS232 line between a ComputerLand terminal
and speaks any English text with unlimited vocabulary permitting VDU and speech data on a
single channel. It has 750 char, buffer and micro processor. Ideal for voice response business
systems, games, computer aided learning, terminals for the blind.
IA SMALL ARM ROBOT
• Low cost Robot Arm
• Wrist, hand, elbow, shoulder movement
• Can be used with any micro
• Parallel input
• Suitable for Pet User Port etc.
• Ideal for Education, Industrial Training,
developing robot control software etc.
£349
+ V AT
zayaebuau controller
Controller Card capable of driving six stepping motors and 3 solenoids
• Parallel input
• Suitable for Pet user port etc
• Six 16-volt outputs
• 3, 1 amp solenoid outputs
• own integral power supply
Only £148 + VAT Cable £9.50 _
Intelligent Artefacts Limited
Cambridge Road, Orwell, Royston, Herts. SG8 5QD
Tel: CAMBRIDGE (0223) 207689
PCW 21
“If it wasn’t
for me,
the Russians
would have
invaded
Poland last
Whether your Every issue’s
kind of fun is sav-1 M I WL* ■ packed with pages
ing Europe in a war game, of games listings for you to pro-
sharpening your chess strategy gram. And you don’t have to be a
or piloting a 747, computer games computer expert,
reach new levels of exhilaration Each month there’s reviews of
in terms of excitement, intellect new computer and video games,
and dexterity. regular pages on chess, bridge
And, to help you get the most and mainframe games. Brush up
fun out of your computer, there’s or learn programming with our
a brand new monthly magazine: regular workshop, and discover
Computer & Video Games . the fun of creating graphics and
It brings the best entertain- adding sound to the games you in-
ment out of all types of computer, vent yourself. There’s also regular
from personal Sinclairs, Ataris, brain teasers (some with prizes)
Tandys, VICs, Apples and PETs plus the secrets of beating arcade
right up to mainframe IBMs. video machines.
22 PCW
'hh,
_
The first issue is at your newsagent now
Computer & Video Games is
packed with new levels of stimu¬
lation for people who get fun out
of computers.
The first great issue is out today
at all good newsagents. And, on
the front cover you’ll find some
free brain torture in the form of
the most tantalising little puzzle
since Rubik’s cube.
It can be solved mathematically
so you should be able to write the
program. But if you fail, you’ve
got four whole weeks of frustra¬
tion because the solution’s not/
available till the second issue.
I would like to take out an annual subscription.
I enclose a cheque/P. 0. for £10, (£20 overseas) for
twelve issues. Computer & Video Games, Bretton
Court, Bretton, Peterborough PE3 8DZ.
Name_
Address_
PCW1
Computer
& Video Games.
The magazine that makes computers fun.
PCW 23
1 MkroValuc
New British
Microsystem, li
Gemini MultiBoard
• Eight boards available NOW • 8" x 8"
board modules • Z80A CPU board • Z80A
Video board • 64K RAM • Built and tested
Developed by one of the most experienced
micro board design teams in the UK, Gemini
MultiBoard * is the ultimate modular board
system. Unlike most systems of its kind,
virtually nothing is made redundant when
you expand it. And for those who want
expansion this can be immediate,for we are
launching eight boards simultaneously. No
other system has ottered so much so soon.
All MultiBoard modules are Nasbusf and
Gemini 80-BUS* compatible and can be
used in a wide spectrum of application, e g
educational, personal, business, system
development and process/production
control.
MultiBoard modules are built and tested to
the highest standards.And offer enormous
computing power and potential at
astonishingly low cost.
MultiBoard Modules
available now
Z80ACPU
Processor: Z80A CPU at 4MHz.Optional
wait-states. Reset jump to any 4K boundary.
Parallel 1/0:8 bit ASCII keyboard socket.
Uncommitted Z80A PIO giving two 8 bit bi¬
directional ports with handshake.
Serial 1/0:8250 UART with programmable
baud rates and software selectable between
RS232 or 1200 baud CUTS cassette
interfaces.
Memory: 4 Bytewyde' sockets to accept
EPROM/ROM/RAM.Memory switched in/out
of memory map under software control.
Software: Comprehensive monitor.Optional
12K Microsoft BASIC (ROM).Standard
configuration PROM provides decodes for
4x2732 (4Kx 8) EPROMs.
The CPU Board is fully buffered to the Gemini
80-BUS standard.
INTELLIGENT VIDEO
• Z80A microprocessor controlled
• 80 x 25 display controlled by 6845 CRTC
chip.
• Adjustable dot clock for alternative screen
formats.
• Character set: 128 in EPROM + 128 in RAM
which can be defined as the video inverse
of the main set or as block graphics with
160x75 resolution.
• I/O port communication with host
computer.
• Light pen socket.
• 8-bit input port allowing several video
boards (each with its own keyboard) to be
connected to a single CPU board.
FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLER
• Controls: Pertec FD250 5.25in 48 TPI,
Micropolis 1015 5.25in 96 TPI, Pertec
FD650 8in.
• Controls up to 4 drives of same type.
• Single/double density software selectable.
• Single or double sided
• Western Digital FD1797 controller.
• Up to 8 drives (2 boards) can be used
in the same system.
64K RAM
• Runs at 4MHz with no wait-states.
• 4 banks of 16K dynamic RAM, each bank
locatable on any 4K address boundary.
• Page Mode supplied as standard allowing
up to 4 memory boards to be addressed.
• All the memory can be used by switching
out on-board CPU memory, e.g.in disk
environment.
EPROM/ROM BOARD
• Accepts up to 40K of firmware.
• 4 banks of 4 sockets.
• Banks can be mixed between 2708 or
2716.
• 24-pin ROM socket.
• Wait-state generator.
• Supports Page Mode scheme.
EPROM PROGRAMMER
• Programs multi-rail 2708 or single rail
2716.
• Connects to PIO on CPU board.
• Software provided on tape.
3APSU
• Supplies 4/5 boards.
• LED on each output.
• t 5Vat3A; »12at 1 A; 5VatlA, 12Vat
80 mA.
KEYBOARD
• Full alpha-numeric • 59-keys ASCII
encoded • Exclusively designed for Gemini
• Auto repeat • Cursor control keys
MULTIBOARD PRICES
(excIVAT)
(All built and tested except where marked)
CPU(G811). £125.00
Video (G812). £140.00
64K RAM (G802). £140.00
FDC (G809). £140.00
EPROM/ROM (G803). £70.00
EPROM PROG. (G808) Kit. £29.50
3A PSU (G807). £40.00
Keyboard (G613). £57.50
FLOPPY DISK UNIT
Gemini unit suitable for MultiBoard.Holds
one or two 5£in double sided, double density
Pertec drives. Intergral power supply. Price
£375 plus VAT tor one drive, £575 plus VAT
for two drives.CP/M2.2 and documentation
£90 plus VAT.
KENILWORTH CASE
for MultiBoard . £49.50 + VAT
5-Card Support Kit. £19.50 + VAT
VERO Frame. £32.50 + VAT
(also suitable for Nascom)
PSU Enclosure Kit. £24.50 + VAT
KEYBOARD enclosures available soon.
MultiBoard Modules are available from the
MicroValue dealers listed on facing page.
* Trademarks of Gemini Microcomputers Limited
{Trademarks of Nascom Microcomputers Division
of Lucas Logic
ttTrademarks of Digital Research Inc.
PCW 24
MicroValue
^ COMPATIBLE ^ —
Nasbus products
from your
MicroValue Dealers
GEMINI G805 FLOPPY
DISK SYSTEM FOR
NASCOM-1 & 2
It's hereof last. A floppy disk system and CP/M
CP/M SYSTEM . The disk unit comes fully
assembled complete with one or two 5f drives
(FD250 double sided,single density) giving 160K
per drive, controller card, power supply,
interconnects from Nascom-1 or 2 to the FDC card
and a second interconnect from the FDC card to
two drives, CP/M 1.4 on diskette plus manual, a
BIOS EPROM and a new N2MD PROM. All in a
stylish enclosure.
Single drive system. £450 + VAT
Double drive system. £640 + VAT
Additional FD250 drives. £205 + VAT
D-DOS SYSTEM.The disk unit is also available
without CP/M to enable existing Nas-Sys software
to be used. Simple read, write routines are supplied
in EPROM.The unit plugs straight into the Nascom
PtO. Single drive system £395 + VAT
DCS-DOS A greatly enhanced version of D-
DOS, running under Nas-Sys.Gives named files in
BASIC, ZEAR NAS-PEN and machine code
programs. £50 + VAT
DISKPEN
The powerful text editor written for the Nascom is
now available on a 5 inch floppy disk with a
number of new features. Price £43.25 + VAT.
NASCOM COMPUTERS
NASCOM-2 Microcomputer Kit
£225+VAT
NASCOM-1 Microcomputer Kit
£125+VAT
Built and tested £140 + VAT
16K RAM KIT £100 +VAT
3APSUKIT £32.50+VAT
KENILWORTH CASE
FOR NASCOM-2
The Kenilworth case is a professional case
designed specifically for the Nascom-2 and up to
four additional 8 x8" cards.lt has hardwood side
panels and a plastic coated steel base and cover. A
fully cut back panel will accept a fan, UHF and
video connectors and up to 8 D-fype connectors.
The basic case accepts the N2 board, PSU and
keyboard. Optional support kits are available for 2
and 5 card expansion.
Kenilworth case. £49.50 + VAT
2-card support kit. £7.50 + VAT
5-card support kit. £19.50 + VAT
CASSETTE
ENHANCING UNIT
The Castle interface is a built and tested add-on
unit which lifts the Nascom-2 into the class of the
fully professional computer.lt mutes spurious
output from cassette recorder switching, adds
motor control facilities, automatically switches
output between cassette and printer, simplifies
2400 baud cassette operating and provides true
RS232 handshake.
Castle Interface Unit. £17.50 + VAT
STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS
Exclusive MicroValue Money Savers
SAVE £200
Sharp MZ80K + Prog. Character Generator
+ 5 Quantum games tapes
- Normal price £645 + VAT
MicroValue price £445 + VAT
SAVE £156
Nascom Imp printer + Imprint text editor
SAVE £ 110
Epson MX80 F/T1 + High Res. Graphics
SAVE £97.50
Nascom 2 + Nas-Sys 3 + Programmers Aid
- Normal price £355 + VAT
MicroValue price £199 ♦ VAT
- Normal price £460 + VAT
MicroValue Price £350 + VAT
- Normal price £392.50 + VAT
MicroValue price £295 + VAT
A-D CONVERTER
For really interesting and useful interactions with
the outside world' the Milham analogue to digital
converter is a must.This 8-bit converter is
multiplexed between four channels - all software
selectable. Sampling rate is 4KHz.Sensitivity is
adjustable.Typical applications include
temperature measurement, voice analysis, joystick
tracking and voltage measurement. It is supplied
built and tested with extensive software and easy
connection to the Nascom PIO.
Milham A-D Converter
(built and tested). £49.50 + VAT
PROGRAMMER'S AID
For Nascom ROM BASIC running under Nas-Sys.
Supplied in 2 x 2708 EPROMs. Features include:
auto line numbering, intelligent renumbering;
program appending; line deletion, hexadecimal
conversion; recompression of reserved words;auto
repeat,and printer handshake routines. When
ordering please state whether this is to used with
Nas-Sys 1 or 3. Price £28 + VAT.
GEMINI 'SUPERMUM'
12x8 piggy-back board for Nascom-1 offering
five-slot motherboard, quality 5A power supply
and reliable buffering with reset jump facility Kit
Price £85 + VAT.
CENTRONICS 737
MICRO PRINTER
A high performance, low price, dot-matrix printer
that runs at 80cps (proportional) and 50cps
(monospaced).This new printer gives text
processing quality print And can print subscripts
and superscripts.lt has 3-way paper handling and
parallel interface as standard. Serial interface is
optional Price £375 + VAT. Fanfold paper
(2000 sheets) £18 + VAT.
BITS & PC s PCG
5x4 board which plugs straight info Nascom-2.
Operates on cell structure of 128 dots, producing
64 different cells. Once defined, each cell may be
placed anywhere, any number of times on screen
simultaneously. Max screen capacity: 768 cells.
Dot resolution: 384 x 256 98304. Many other
features including intermixing of alpha-numeric
characters and pixels. Price (kit) £60 + VAT.
PORT PROBE
Allows monitoring of input and output of Nascom
PIO.This board can generate interrupts and
simulate handshake control. Price (kit)
£17.50 + VAT.
All prices are correct at time of going to press
and are effective 1 st July 1981,
HEX & CONTROL KEYPADS
Hexadecimal scratchpad keyboard kit for N1 /2,
Price £34 ♦ VAT.
As above but including (on rne same board) a
control keypad kit to add N2 control keys to N1
Price £40.50 ♦ VAT.
BASIC PROGRAMMER'S AID
Supplied on tape for N1 /2 running Nas-Sys and
Nascom ROM BASIC. Features include auto line
number, full cross-reference listing, delete lines,
find, compacting command, plus a
comprehensive Tine re-numbering facility
Price £13 * VAT.
SCREENPLUS'
Screenplus enables a programmer to blank or
display in reverse video, selected words, letters or
areas of the screen under program control.
Suitable for use with either Nascom 1 or 2
Screenplus (builtandtested) £40.00 + VAT.
DUAL MONITOR BOARD
A piggy-back board that allows N1 users to switch
rapidly between two separate operating systems.
Price (kit) £6.50 ♦ VAT.
YOUR LOCAL MICROVALUE DEALER
All the products on these two pages are available while stocks last from the
MicroValue dealers listed below.
(Mail order enquiries should telephone tor delivery dates and post and packing
costs.) Access and Barclaycard welcome.
BITS & PC S
4 Westgate,Wethert>y,W. Yorks.
Tel:(0937) 63774.
BUSINESS & LEISURE
MICROCOMPUTERS
16 The Square, Kenilworth, Works.
Tel:(0926) 512127.
ELECTROVALUE LTD.
680 Burnage Lane.Burnage,
Manchester Ml 9 IN A.
Tel:(061) 432 4945.
28 St Judes, Englefieid Green,
Egham,SurreyTW20 OHB.
Tel: (0784) 3o603.TlX:264475.
TARGET ELECTRONICS
16 Cherry Lane, Bristol BS1 3NG.
Tel:(0272) 421196
INTERFACE COMPONENTS LTD.
Oakfield Comer,Sycamore Road,
Amersham, Bucks.
Tel:(02403) 22307. Tlx:837788
HENRY'S RADIO
404 Edgware Road, London W2.
Tel:(01) 402 6822.
Tlx: 262284 (quote ref: 1400).
§
PCW 25
■Pete & Pam Computers,
computer
APPLE SYSTEM SALES AND SERVICE
IN BOTH LONDON AND LANCASHIRE
Competitive Quotes and Personal Service
Ring Chris Gillard in London — Pete or Pam Fisher in Lancashire
We welcome dealer enquiries All the products we advertise are available from your local dealer
RAMCARD £99 95
A I6K Expansion card for your Apple It will provide additional memory for Visicalc. load integer
from a System Master and is fully compatable with Apple s Pascal System The only board with
Neon Read/Write indicators The only card with data bus lines for faster data retrieval
Z-80 SOFTCARD £195 00
A Z-80 microprocessor for Apple Comes with CP/M operating system and Microsoft Basic 5
Free until January 1st Olympic Decathlon game disk value £13 9b with every card
COBOL 80 £299 00
FORTRAN 80 £109 95
BASIC COMPILER £199 00
ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT £79 00
80 COLUMN BOARDS
Take your pick—
SUP-RTERMINAL £195 00
VIDEX £185 00
PASCAL JOB CONTROL SYSTEM - From High Technology £295 00
A fast, sophisticated job control/costing system able to control costs on 400 jobs, providing
useful reports and maintaining 50 cost centres with 500 sub cost centres Worth its weight in gold 1
DB MASTER £129 95
The Data Base with 100 fields operating on multi-diskette files for large capacity
DB MASTER Utility Pack No 1 £60
Links DB master with Apple Text Files and Visicalc 3 3 Add delete or change existing DB Master
Fields and more
DB MASTER for Corvus available soon £295
INFORMATION MASTER - Data Base £79 00
A dream to use, has advanced facilities such as global change and calculator mode of entering •
figures A system that a novice can use with ease
DATA MASTER £55 00
A utility for use with Information Master Allows the splitting of a data base system selectivity
change of field types and transfer of print formats
TRANSIT £2900
A utility that enables you to link Information Master to many files including those created bv
Visicalc
VISICALC 3 3 Our Price £105 00
At last — Visicalc on 16 sector DOS 3 3 with 12 additional commands Enhanced Manual is
included
VISIDEX £105 00
New from Personal Software Type in whatever key words Phase dates or numbers you want the
info to be associated with and store it away
VISITERM £79 00
Allows your computer to communicate with larger computers or other personal computers Link
your personal computer with your company s mainframe
VISIPLOT £85 00
Automatically creates high resolution graphs and charts Visualise data in six different formats
and six different colours Data can be directly entered or data files loaded from Visicalc 3 3
VISITREND £129 00
Allows you to perform sophisticated math operations on time series data such as stock prices or
production figures Includes Multi line regress, cumulative total, percent change. lead/lag moving
averages, smoothing and various transformations
which let you create new time series This package also includes Visiplot
WORDSTAR for Apple £179.00
If you want the best in word processing for Apple then Wordstar is the answer Very well
documented and great to use Require the installation of a Z-80 Softcard
MAILMERGE £69 00
Allows you to maintain name and address lists and merge fields into text to form personalised
letters etc
2 TERM £59 95
Software that allows you to emulate the terminal of your choice whilst using Apple with a Z-80
Softcard
THE MILL £249 95
A 6809 plug-in board for Apple can run at full speed whilst the 6502 runs at 20% Comes with
either a Pascal speed-up kit to increase the speed of execution of Apple s U65D Pascal or a 6809
assembler
DAKIN 5 PROG AIDS 3 3 £49 00
12 Utility Programmes in one pack
APPLE HOW TO
Requires Int Basic or 16K Expansion Card — teaches calculating and programming
APPLE MUSIC THEORY
RAMEX 16
UK entrant to the expansion card market — does r
£29 95
t need to be ribboned to the memory a
ECHO II Speech Synthesizer
Based on TMS 5200 chip from T1 — type in speech direct from the keyboard
EXPANSION CHASSIS
Long awaited — here at last More slots for your Apple
MOUNTAIN CPS - multi function card
A bi-directional serial interface — parallel port and clock/calendar card all t
be made to use phantom slots
£159 95
z board Can
£29 00
freeing motherboard Ram space for larger
£149 95
the expense of an Apple
£20 95
ragnification
MEMORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
A utility that moves DOS onto a 16K expansion card
programs
VERSAWRITER
Superb graphics tablet from Versa Computing You don t have to go !
graphics tablet for graphics capability
VERSA EXPANSION SOFTWARE
Auxiliary Pack for the Versawriter includes the ability to draw in fine detail using
mode
VERSA EXPANDER PORT £12 95
An expansion cable and ZIP socket for the Apple game I/O socket allows zero insertion force of
peripherals requiring connection to game socket
GRAPPLER FROM ORANtiE MICRO £99 00
An interface for the Epson MX 80 and 100 that obeys Apple protocols and has a graphics dump
programme in ROM producing 2 sizes of picture and 360 degrees rotation with positive or
negative image
OLYMPIA SCRIPIA ESW K8R-100 £950 00
Daisywheel printer with keyboard A little slow (17 characters per second) but with excellent
print quality
EPSON MX 80 F/T £398 00
9x9 matrix printer with friction and tractor feed
EPSON MX-80T £349 00
Tractor feed only
INTERFACE AND CABLE £65 00
For the above (non-graphic)
AIO INTERFACE FROM SSM £119 95
A parallel and serial interface on one board
MACHINE COVERS only the best material used
Apple only £5.95
Single disk £2 95
2 stacked disks £4 95
Apple. 2 disks and 9" monitor or Apple and 12” monitor £8 95
Apple and 2 disk £7 95
Epson MX 70/80 £5 45
High
Technology
We make our
competition
obsolete
with Information Master,™
Data Master,™ and Transit.™
Information Master is clearly the
best information management
software available for your Apple II *
and it's the easiest to use.
Here are two very useful
companions that add even more
power to Information Master.
• Data Master - Alter the file
layout of existing Information
Master files without re-entering
data. Add. omit, change fields,
subdivide and append files
selectively.
• Transit - Convert VisiCalc* files
(and almost any other files you
may have) into Information
Master files.
See your computer dealer today
for all the details.
• VisiCalc is a trademark of Personal Software Inc
Apple II is a trademark of Apple Computer. Inc
ABT NUMERICAL KEYPAD £74 95
SOFTKEY £99 00
(Basic or Pascal versions available) A 15 key programmable keypad
SENSIBLE SOFTWARE UTILITIES
Applesoft programme optimiser £ 1 2 95
Multi Disk III £14 95
Super Disk Copy III £ 1 7 95
DOS Plus £17 95
Disk Organiser II £17 95
Disk Recovery £17 95
Applesoft Plus Structured Basic £ 14 95
BENEATH APPLE DOS (no VAT) £12 95
An excellent book on Apple DOS
NEC GREEN SCREEN MONITOR £ 169 00
BASF Disks (for 10) £18 50
OLYMPIC DECLATHLON from Microsoft £ 1 2 95
Superb Hi-Res Graphics — Winner of this years WCCF prize for creative programming
FLIGHT SIMULATOR by Sub-Logic Disk £19 95
So realistic — you might feel airsick 1 -be warned 1 Cassette £14 95
DRAGON FIRE from Dakin Corp £29 95
WIZARDRY from Sir-Tech £29 95
PASCAL ADVENTURE needing only 48K
Apple Galaxian — Galaxy Wars — Flead-On — Galactic Revolution — Galactic Trader Galactic
Empire — Mystery House — Bridge Partner - Checker King — Gammon Gambler — Roulette
Craps — Apple 21 — Puckman — Global War — Space Warrior - Apple Typhoon Apple Panic
— Sneekers — Galactic Attack — Gorgon by Nasir All at £13 95
Microsoft Adventure — ABM — Dog Fight — Phantoms Five - Orbitron — Pulsar Murochess
2 0 — Odyessy — La Land Monopoly — Morloc s Tower — Rescue at Rigel Space Eggs -
Trilogy of Games — The Prisoner — Raster Blaster —
Autobahn — Space Raiders — Tawala s Last Redoubt — Gamma Goblins Apple Pane All at £15.95
Computer Conflict — Computer Quarterback — Cartels and Cutthroats — Space Album — Bill
Budge 3D Graphics Tutor — Cyber Strike — 3 Mile Island Adventure 123 - Adventure 456
— Adventure 789 — Hi-Res Soccer — Temples of Apshai Hellfire Warrior —
Zork All at £20 95
Buy any five games and you can deduct 10% off the total price 1
Authorised Apple Sales and Service
LONDON RETAIL, 98 Moyser Road London SWI6 6SH
Tel 01-677 2052/7341
MAIL ORDER AND DISTRIBUTION, Watngate Lodge Waingate Close
Rossendale. Lancs BB4 7SO
Tel Rossendale (0706) 22701 1
Prices do not include VAT Please add 15% VAT to your remittance Postage and packing FREE
ELECTRONICS
74LS SERIES I.C.S
74LSOO
0.20
74LS75
0.36
74LSI64
0,90
74LS279
0.90
74LS02
0.20
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0.45
74LS165
1.40
74LS283
1.80
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0.22
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0.70
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2 ,00
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2.50
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0.70
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2.40
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l o 10
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0.86
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1.00
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74LSI12
1.00
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74LSI92
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1.70
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00
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1.75
woodhill lane shamley green
near guildford surrey
tel: 0483 893236
MAKE YOUR MICRO
TALK TO YOU
WITH
'ELEKTOR' SPEECH SYNTHESISER
BOARD. IN CONJUNCTION WITH
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS LTD
THIS PROJECT AS FEATURED IN
ELEKTOR HAS A
LIBRARY OF 400 WORDS WITH
FURTHER EXPANSION AVAILABLE.
EASILY INTERFACED TO YOUR
MICRO KIT OF PARTS INC PCB AND
REPRINT OF ARTICLE
ONLY £75.90
READY BUILT & TESTED £93.15p
NOTE ALL OUR PRICES
INCLUDE VAT
Send cheque or postal order to Crestway Electronics
Ltd., write or ring with your Access/Barclaycard acc¬
ount no. (do not send your card). Please add 40p to
all U.K. orders for postage and packing.
computer
and Service
COMPLETE SYSTEM
FOR £1190
48K Apple 11 Plus
* Disc Drive w/controller
* Visicalc or Magic
window
* Video Monitor
* Plus 12 months
warranty.
AUTHORISED APPLE SALES
AND LEVEL I SERVICE CENTRE
VERBATIM FLOPPY DISKS
5%" 55.5 Density
£1.99 L0W
REDUCE ERROR L0W
RATE. Use cleaning PRICES
kit. £16.95
MZ 80K, 20K_
PCI 211 Computer.
CE121 Interface . .
CE122 Printer.
£389
£ 75
£ 13
£ 65
Programs in BASIC 1.9k
Random Access Memory
"QWERTY" Alphabetic
Keyboard Long Battery Life
ATARI
Atari 400 with 8K RAM - £225
Atari 400 with 16K RAM - £295
Atari 800 with 16K RAM - £625
. Adventures: Alien Rain — Asteroid — Galaxian —
“ Mystery House — Snoggle All at £9.95
Tarturian — Creature Venture — Apple Panic — STAR
Mines - Draw Poker - All at £14.95
Soft-Porn Adventure - The Wizard & The Princess —
Space Eggs — Trilogy of Games, Missile Defence
All at £17.95
Hi-Res Soccer ) Wrap Factor — Three Mile Island
at £20.95
VACANCY: Young sales
engineer required.
Add 15% VAT
DELIVERY IS PAID AT COST
DEANS Kensington
191, KENSINGTON HIGH STREET, LONDON W.8.
Tel. 01 937 7896 Ext. 3.
PRINTERS
CENTRONICS 737
This versatile printer provides
consistently excellent standard print for
routine applications. Furthermore, under
software control, it will also generate
proportionally spaced high density matrix,
characters of correspondence quality.
• 80 CPS - Proportional Spaced Mode
• 50 CPS - Monospaced Mode
• Proportional Spacing. Plus 10 CPi
and 16.7 CPI
• Nx9 (Proportional) or 7x8
(Monospaced) Dot Matrix
• 3 Way Paper Handling System
• 96 Character ASC11 plus 6 European
character sets
• Microprocessor Electronics
• Expanded Print
• Right Margin Justification
£345
-VAT
EPSON
A FINE RANGE OF PRINTERS f \0^
WITH ASCII AND GRAPHICS
MX70T, MX80T, MX80 FT, MX100FT
♦ VAT
The VIDEO GENIE SYSTEM EG3003
16K RAM, 12K Microsoft BASIC in ROM
TRS-80 Level II software compatible.
27 ^
♦ VAT
LR.COMPUTERS
CHURCHILL CHAMBERS
92 GEORGE LANE LONDON E18 1JJ 01 989 3259
PCW 27
Standard Model 64K RAM/320 DISK
ALTERNATIVE MODELS
QD 700K DISK £1995
S 800K DISK plus
Function Keys etc £2095
BRAIN
PACKAGES
TODAY S BEST
PRICE/PERFORMANCE
RATIO FROM
A MICRO
COMPUTER
The efficient business
system consists of
standard Superbrain
Microline 80 Printer
; mam hhhh Complete word amm m^mm
» ■. _^B_ Jm^mj^m
^ a^a ■ikb.mb
^^a ^^a sup^rtirH*--
m mbbi m
Individual Price: £395 (inc. serial interface)
Individual Price:
£1595
Microline 80
Software Options: we market a full supporting
range of standard languages, including, BASIC
@ £175, FORTRAN @ £225, PASCAL @£225,
and CIS COBOL @ £425. We have a growing
and comprehensive library of software
programmes available:
Incomplete Records for Practising
Accountants @£750
Graphics -Hardware @£435 with Software
from £80
Integrated Accounting System - Stock Control
@ £350, Order Entry and Invoicing @ £350,
Sales Ledger @ £450, Purchase Ledger @
£450, General/Nominal @ £400, Name &
Address @ £250, Complete Package so far
@£1650 plus Payroll @£500.
Financial Modelling - T/Maker @ £155 and
Micromodeller @£645.
Data Base Management -DMS @ £400
Word Processing - Wordstar @ £250 and
Mailmerge@£75.
Also available-Form Creation, Debugging etc
Alternatively we will design and implement
software packages to suit your specific needs
MICROS LIMITED
KGB Micros Ltd., 14 Windsor Road, Slough, Berks. SL1 2EJ Tel: Slough 38581
Prices exclude V A T and are sublet to fluctuation please phone for an up-to-the-minute quote
PCW 28
or ATARI
The World-beating
ATARI PERSONAL
COMPUTERS
3 consoles available
Atari 400 with 16K RAM (AF36P)
£345
Atari 400 with 32K RAM (AF37S) £395
Atari 800 with 16K RAM (AF02C) £645
(expandable to 48K)
All consoles when connected to a standard UK colour (or
black and white) TV set can generate the most amazing
graphics you've ever seen.
Look at what you get:
* Background colour, plotting colour, text
colour and border colour settable to any
one of 16 colours with 8 levels of
illuminance!
* Video display has upper and lower case
characters with true descenders, double
and quad size text and inverse video.
* 57-Key keyboard (touch type on Atari 400)
and four function keys.
* Full screen editing and four way cursor
control.
* 29 keystroke graphics and plottable points
up to 320 x 192 (160 x 96 only with 8K
RAM).
* 40 character by 24 line display.
* Extended graphics control and high speed
action using a DMA chip with its own
character set.
* Player missile graphics.
* Four programmable sound generators can
be played individually or together and each
has 1785 possible sounds playable at any
one of eight volume settings, for game
sounds or music.
* Full software control of pitch, timbre and
duration of notes in 4-octave range.
* Four joystick or paddle ports, sounds
output to TV.
* BASIC cartridge and 10K ROM operating
system and full documentation.
DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME
iffimnim
Maplin Electronic Supplies Ltd
P.O. Box 3, Rayleigh, Essex.
Tel: Southend (0702) 552911/554155
Atari 400 Console
MORE HARDWARE
Atari 410 Cassette Recorder (AF28F) £50
Atari 810 Disk Drive (AF06G) £345
Atari 822 40-column Thermal
Printer (AFO40 £265
Atari 850 Interface (AF29G) £135
Joystick Controllers (AC37S) £13.95
Paddle Controllers (AC29G) £13.95
16K RAM Memory Module (AF08J) £65
MUCH MORE FOR ATARI COMING SOON
SOFTWARE
SEND S.A.E. NOW FOR OUR LEAFLET(XH52G)|
^b ^b ^b vb cb ^b ^b
^p ^p
* STOPM£SS ROAD SHOWS*
Friday 25th September *
Newcastle Centre Hotel
. Saturday 26th September
▼ Grosvenor Centre Hotel, Edinburgh
jfc. Sunday 27th September ^
*** Portland Hotel, Manchester ”
3|£ Monday 28th September
Birmingham Centre Hotel
▼ Tuesday 29th September ^
Hotel Nelson, Norwich ^
^ For further details phone 0702 554155 *
**********
LE STICK
For Atari Computer or Video Game
Replaces standard joystick, but much
easier to use. Internal motion detectors
sense hand movements. Large pushbutton
on top of Stick. Squeeze Stick to freeze
motion. A MUST for SPACE INVADERS,
STAR RAIDERS b ASTEROIDS.
ONLY £24.95 (AC45Y)
Note: Order codes shown in brackets.
Prices firm until 14th November, 1981
and include VAT and Postage and Packing.
(Errors excluded).
Atari 800 Console (with cover removed)
SPECIAL PACKAGE OFFER
Disk-based system for £725 with LeStick
The Atari 400 Console
Special 32K RAM Module
Atari 810 Disk Drive
Disk Operating System
Documentation
Interconnecting Leads
Everything in "Look at what you get" list.
Can any other computer on the market
offer all this at anything like this price?
VERSAWRITER
12% x 8in. drawing board. Drawing on
board is reproduced on TV via Atari with
32K RAM and Disk Drive. Closed areas
may be filled in with one of 3 colours. Text
may be added in any one of 4 fonts. Paint
brush mode: select size of brush and paint
away. Air brush mode: shade in your
drawing-colour and density is up to you.
Plus many more features. S.a.e. for price
and further details.
^ Demonstrations^
Sh t °284 London Poad.
PCW 29
Straightforward linear design:
the secret of
the Honeywell Printers’long life.
The rational simplification of
the mechanical part maxi¬
mizes use over long periods,
thus reducing the possibility
of breakdown to a minimum
and at the same time ensur¬
ing greater reliability.
The simplification, straight¬
forwardness of design, is a
logical consequence of Ho¬
neywell’s sophisticated tech¬
nology, a technology born
out of many years of expe¬
rience in the development of
data systems, guaranteeing
only the highest quality in
Honeywell Printers.
Depending on their utili¬
zation, there are Ho¬
neywell printing sy¬
stems capable of 180 cps
optimized bidirectional
printing with parallel or se¬
rial interface of up to 9,600
bps for the best use of the
computer.
Easy to service and flexible,
Honeywell Printers can easily
be adapted to all specific ap¬
plication re¬
quirements.
If you are
interested and
would like to know
more about Honeywell’s
products please complete the attached
form and mail to:
Honeywell Information Systems Italia
1 Via Tazzoli, 6 - 20154 Milano
1 Tel. (02) 6570312 - 6570592 - 6977 1
| Telex Milano 311308 HISI
Honeywell
Honeywell Information Systems Italia
i
i
L.
Name
Position
Company
Address
Tel.
PIXELPLOTTER
graphics
-graphics packages for microcomputers and
intelligent terminals
in service worldwide in industry, science, education and commerce
m
wm
A choice of hardware... A choice of software...
A wide range of PIXELPLOTTER raster
graphics display generators for
microcomputers and intelligent
terminals which can be specified as an
option on your new machine or simply
retro-fitted in the field#lntertec
Superbrain DD, QD and HD
• Heath/Zenith Z19 and Z89#Televideo
• Ampexescreens from 512 x 256 pixels
to 1024 x 512 pixels depending on
model#all packages easily installed#
screen hardcopy output#digitiser pad
input#Prices from £435.00
UK: Encotel Systems 01 -686-9687#
Heath/Zenith 0452-29451#Helistar Systems
0296-630364#Icarus Computer Systems#
KGB Micros 0753-38581#distributors
supported by an extensive dealer network
A comprehensive suite of packages
for use in industry, science, education
and commerce#Symbol Generator
Graph Plotter#3-D with-true-
perspective#Surface Plotter
• ACUSOFT routines supplied in library
form for use with compilers,
interpreters and assemblers using
Microsoft parameter passing under
Digital Research CP/M 2.2
•Tektronix 4010-series Graphics
Terminal Emulator for use with
microcomputers and intelligent
terminals # Prices from £80.00
USA & Canada: Maxtek, Inc. XCEL graphics
(213) 320-6604 (manufacturing licencee for
Micronex PIXELPLOTTER graphics products).
Distributor and OEM enquiries: Micronex Ltd.
(027 589) 3042.
SYSTEMS GROUP
Micronex Ltd., Harford Square, Chew Magna, Bristol BS18 8RA, England. Telephone: Chew Magna (027 589) 3042.
PCW31
No experience required
We fully understand that to the uninitiated the first look at the Micro Computer
world can be somewhat confusing, to say the least. But of course, to the
experienced operator or programmer it’s all plain—Kilobyte! Well, you don’t have
to be experienced to shop at SRS, we try to keep things as simple as possible
and cater for everyone’s needs. The businessman thinking about a small
computer for the office or the advanced hobbyist requiring all the extra
accessories for the micro system at home. We’ll be pleased to give you all
the help you need, advising you, in plain English, and plan the system that’s
just right for your needs—not one 32K RAM Module more! And at the end
of the day, with our LOW PRICES and all the bits you were advised
NOT to buy, we’ll have almost certainly have saved you a great deal
of money too! Call in and see us soon.
sitelafdService
APPLE II 48K.£807
Disc Drive with controller.. £383
Additional Disc Drive.£299
Video Monitor.£127
PART EXCHANGE
SHARP
Model MZ80K
NASCOM II
This excellent single board Micro Computer is
supplied ready built and tested with keyboard but no
memory
Model 400
16K
RAM
£300
Cassette recorder £43.48
Disc drive.£300.00
Thermal printer.£230.43
Plain paper printer. . £478.00
Printer Interface.£117.39
16 Plug-in RAM £56.50
The advanced electronics of the ATARI 400 and 800 systems make them simple
to use, even if you’ve never used a computer before. Yet, for the sophisticated user,
they offer full user-programmability. In BASIC or Assembly Language. Connects to any
TV. You simply attach them to any home television set. causing no interference to TV
reception. And entertainment programs turn your television set into an entertainment centre
♦or the whole family. Call in and find out more about these exciting new Micro Computers.
ATARI
f« the RONE« OFFICE
to shop here!
In stock shortly.
Please phone for details
or call in.
Power supply.£ 32.50 Considering a new computer? You might be surprised
4 x 4118 Memory chips (4K) E 20.00 what we offer you (we might be surprised what you
48K RAM Board P.O.A. offer US!)
Call in and see us for: Printers, video monitors, software, computing books, discs, tapes
etc. Many new items coming along soon.
ACCESS & BARCLAYCARD WELCOME - HIRE PURCHASE AVAILABLE
FREE SECURICOR DELIVERY ON ORDER OVER £100
All prices shown are excluding V.A.T. E. & O. E.
SRS MICROSYSTEMS
161 Bramley Road,
Oakwood, London N14 4XA
Telephone: 01-363 8060
(Closed Monday)
To POTTERS BAR
COCKFOSTERS
To Ml A BARNET
BRAMLEYROAD
♦
To SOUTHGATE
A North Clr. Rd.
1
To ENFIELD
r - A A10
SRS MICRO
SYSTEMS
PCW 32
COMPUTER WAREHOUS
NOW OPEN
MONDAY SATURDAY
9.30 5.3()
RAM AND EPROM NEW LOW VAT INCLUSIVE PRICES
2716 5vRail £7-50 4116 200NS 16KX1DVN. 8for£19-95
2716 3 Rail £8-50 2114L-3 300NS1KX4 ST. 8 for £22-50
2708 450 NS £4-50 2102L-3 650NS1KX1 ST. 8 for£ 5-50
2708 Ex Equip £2-25 TMS4030JL 300NS4KX1 DYN 8 for£ 9-95
All devices full spec, and guaranteed. Bulk enquiries welcome.
h^ck now test equipment. .motors, peripheral
transformers, power WPP***££Jartacs .keyboards.
srsfe:;--
TELETYPE ASR33
I/O TERMINALS
ICLTERMIPRINTER SCOOP PURCHASE
300 BAUD TERMINALS 12 VIDEOMONITORS
V
From £195 car
Fully fledged industry standard ASR33 data ter
minal Many features including: ASCII keyboard
and printer for data I/O, auto data detect circuitry,
RS232 serial interface, 110 baud, 8 bit paper tape
punch and reader for off line data preparation and
ridiculously cheap and reliable data storage Sup
plied in good condition and in working order
Options: Floor stand £12 50 + VAT
Sound proof enclosure £25.00 + VAT
GIVE
YOUR
M.P.U.
A HOME
ONLY
£9.95
+ 1 85 pp
Superb professional fully enclosed, made for the
G.P.O. to the highest standard, offered at a
fraction of their original cost they feature
aluminium sides, hinged removable front panel,
which can be secured by 2 screws to prevent
prying fingers. All are finished in two tone G.P.O.
grey and although believed brand new may have
minor scuff marks/scratches due to bad storage.
Dimensions 16"D x 6'/2"H x 14 3 /*"W
NATIONAL MA1012 LED
CLOCK MODULE
PRICES
REDUCED
ONLY
£295
+ CAR
+ VAT
Made under licence from the world famous GE Co.
The ICL Termiprinter is a small attractive unit with
so many features it is impossible to list them in the
space available! Brief spec as follows; RS232
serial interface, switchable baud rates 110, 150,
300, (30 cps), upper and lower case correspond
ence type face, standard paper, almost silent run
ning, form feed, electronic tab settings, suited for
word processor applications plus many more
features. Supplied in good condition and in work
mg order. Limited quantity.
CONNECT
DIRECT TO
YOUR MICRO
Made by the “BALL MIRATEl" CORPORATION USA
the CD12 is a self contained, mains powered chassis
professional monitor. All controls are inbuilt on a
single PCB with exception of the brightness control
which can be brought out for external use. Many
features such as composite video, quoted bandwidth
of 19 Mhz. superb linearity and definition make this a
must for any MICR0/CCTV application.
Brand new and boxed only nn~t m ....
+ carriage £7 50 + VAT L3 /. DU + VAT
Input harness, brightness pot and connector £2.50
-»- VAT. Dimensions 9"H x 11 "D x 11} "W
HURRY WHILE STOCKS LAST
a
★12HOUR
★ ALARM
★ 50/60 HZ
The same module as used in most ALARM/CLOCK
radios today, the only difference is our price! All
electronics are mounted on a PCB measuring only
3” x 1 i” and by addition of a few switches and 5/16
volts AC you have a multi function alarm clock at a
fraction of cost. Other features include snooze
timer, am pm, alarm set, power fail indicator, flash¬
ing seconds cursor, modulated alarm output etc.
Supplied brand new with full data only .
Suitable transformer £1.75. £5.25
THE PRINTER SCOOP OF THE YEAR
THE L0GABAX Z80 MICROPROCESSOR CONTROLLED
LX180L MATRIX PRINTER
A massive bulk purchase enables us to offer you this
superb professional printer at a fraction of its recent
cost of over £2000. Utilising the very latest in
* microprocessor technology, it features a host of
facilities with all electronics on one plug in P C B. Just
4 stud Y the specification and you will instantly realise it
meets all the requirements of the most exacting
Lprofessional or hobbyist user
STANDARD FUNCTIONS * Full ASCII character set * Standard
ink ribbon ★ RS232/V24 serial interface - 7 xtal controlled baud rates up
to 9600 ★ 194 characters per line ★ Parallel interface ★ Handshakes on serial and parallel
ports ★ 4 Type fonts, italic script, double width, italic large, standard ★ Internal buffer
★ Internal self test ★ 170 CPS ★ Variable paper tractor up to 17 5" wide ★ Solid steel
I construction ★ All software in 2708 eproms easily reconfigured for custom fonts etc.
All this and more, not refurbished but BRAND NEW At Only £525 + VAT
1 + carriage and ins £18.00 + VAT
OPTIONAL EXTRAS ★ Lower case £25.00 ★ 16K buffer £30 00 ★ Second tractor for
simultaneous dual forms £85.00 ★ Logabax maintenance P0.A.
Itock SOFTY
EPROM BLOWER
Software development system
invaluable tool for designers, hobby
ists, etc. Enables open heart surgery
on 2716, 2708 etc. Blows, copies,
reads EPROMS or emulates
EPROM/ROM/RAM in situ whilst
displaying contents on domestic TV
receiver. Many other features. £115
+ carr. + VAT. Optional 2716, 2716
Function Card f40 + VAT PSU £20
♦ £1.50 carr. + VAT
Write or phone for more details.
JUSTIN
Secondhand chassis 9" Blue-best
mains powered, video monitors,
composite video input with inbuilt
5v 3 amp DC PS U. Tested, but
unguaranteed
£39.99 + £7.50 carriage
Complete with circuit.
MAJOR
SAVINGS
HARD DISK DRIVES
SEMICONDUCTOR
GRAB BAGS'
Amazing value mixed semiconductors, include
transistors, digital, linear I C s, tnacs. diodes, bndge
recs etc etc All devices guaranteed brand new. full
spec wrth manufacturers markings, fully guaranteed
50 + BAG £2 95 100 + BAGS £5 1b
MUFFIN FANS
p DIMENSIONS 4f
t LE CTRONIC
COMPONENTS
& EQUIPMENT
Another major purchase allows us to bring you the professional technology of hard
disk drives at a price you can now afford. Just imagine absolutely masses of correct
data transferred or saved on your system by the time your finger leaves the carriage
return key!! All drives offered are made to the highest professional standard by the
DRE Co., perhaps the largest of UK OEM peripheral manufacturers. All components
are batch selected to obtain the utmost reliability and after having run two series 30
and a 4000 drive continuously 24 hours a day for over a year without a single
read/write error we can most certainly vouch for the quality.
DIABLO/DRE series 30. Fully refurbished this 2.5 MB drive accepts 2315 exchang-
able (via removing top cover) disk cartridges. Sectoring is a feature of the disk pack
and may range from 8-48. Fully DEC RK05, Nova, Texas, system compatable.
Requires + & -15v DC Supply.
Series 30 Drive £475 + VAT Series 30 Front Loader £695 + VAT
DC Power Supply £125 + VAT
DRE 4000 B Series. Model 4044. Technology at its finest, this drive currently
manufactured by DRE features 10 MB's of on line storage split into two disk plattens,
1, 5 MB fixed and 1 top load 5 MB type 5440 exchangable cartridge. Features, DC
drive motor, built in air conditiong system, write protect, mains powered, etc.
Supplied Brand New and Boxed complete with Manual and Rack Slides.
Manufacturers current price £3100, our price £1495 + VAT
•For DEC compatability or alternate sectoring please enquire. Xylogics DEC LS111
controller for 4 S30 or 2 4000 drives £850 + VAT Newton Labs S100 controller for 4
S30 or 2 4000 £625 + VAT Controller for TRS80, PET, APPLE, price to be announced.
NEW 2315 12 sector disk packs £40 + VAT
NEW 5440 any sector packs £48 + VAT
ORDER NOW!! These prices may never be repeated Specialist carriage S30£15.00 + VAT4000
DISCOUNT
Due to our massive bulk purchasing programme
which enables us to bring you the best possible
bargains, we have thousands of I.C.'s, Transistors,
Relays, Cap's., P.C.B.'s, Subassemblies, Switches,
etc. etc. surplus to our requirements. Because we
don't have sufficient stocks of any one item to
include in our ads., we are packing all these items
into the BARGAIN PARCEL OF A LIFETIME
Thousands of components at giveaway prices!
Guaranteed to be worth at least 3 times what you
pay plus we always include something from our ads.
for unbeatable value!! Sold by weight
2.5kls£ 4.75+pp£1.25 5kls£ 6.75+pp£1.80
lOkls £11.75+pp £2.25 20kls £19.99+pp £4.75
STEP INTO THE 80 s
WITH TOMORROWS WORLD
TECHNOLOGY TODAY
THE TANTEL
PRESTEL-VEWDATA
ADAPTOR
At last this amazing piece of micro technology is
available at a price you can afford Just connect to
the aerial socket of any colour or black and white
domestic TV receiver and to your Post Office
installed jack socket and you are into the exciting
world of PRESTEL. Via simple push button use you
are able to view a staggering 170,000 pages of up to
the minute information on many services and
utilities, order goods from companies, even play
games!! All this and more without ever leaving your
armchair!
ONLY £170
+ £1.75 carr. + VAT
SEND £197.51
A A J| FULLY CASED
ItUfl ASCII COOED
KEYBOARDS
IDEAL-
TANGERINE,
OHIO ETC,
Straight from the U.S.A. made by the world famous R.C.A. Co., the
VP600 Series of cased freestanding keyboards meet all require¬
ments of the most exacting user, right down to the price 1
Utilising the latest in switch technology. Guaranteed in excess of
5 million operations. The keyboard has a host of other features
including full ASCII 128 character set, user definable keys,
upper/lower case, rollover protection, single 5V rail, keyboard
impervious to liquids and dust, TTL or CMOS outputs, even an
on-board tone generator for keypress feedback, and a 1 year full
R.C.A. backed guarantee
VP601 7 bit fully coded output with delayed
strobe, etc.
VP611 Same as VP601 with numeric pad.
VP606 Serial, RS232,20MA and TTL output, with
6 selectable Baud Rates.
VP616 Same as VP606, with numeric pad,
Plug and cable fot VP601, VP611 £2.25
Plug for VP606, VP616 £2.10
Post, Packing and Insurance.
ORDER NOW OR SEND FOR DETAILS.
£43.95
£54.95
£60.95
£72.50
£1.95
ELECTRONICS
Dept. P.C.W. 64-66 Melfort Rd., Thornton Heath, MAIL ORDER
Croydon, Surrey. Tel; 01-689 7702 or 01-689 6800 INFORMATION
Unless otherwise stated all prices inclusive of V.A.T. Cash with order. Minimum
order value £2.00. Prices and Postage quoted for UK only. Where post and
packing not indicated please add 60p per order. Bona Fida account orders
minimum £10 .00. Export and trade enquiries welcome. Orders despatched
same day where possible. Access and Barclaycard Visa welcome.
5v D.C. POWER SUPPLIES
Following the recent "SELL OUT'' demand for our 5v
3 amp P.S.U. we have managed to secure a large quan
tity of ex computer systems P.S.U.'s with the following
spec.; 240 or 110v A C. input. Outputs of 5v (g) 3-4
amps, 7.2v @ 3 amps and 6.5v (g) 1 amp. The 5v and
7.2v outputs are fully regulated and adjustable with
variable current limiting on the 5v supply. Unit is self
contained on a P.C.B. measuring only 12 x 5 x 3
The 7.2v output is ideal for feeding "on board" regu
lators or a further 3 amp LM323K regulator to give an
effective 5v @ 7 amp supply.
Supplied complete with circuit at only £10.95 + £1 75pp.
Believed working but untested, unguaranteed.
PCW33
LONDON COMPUTER CENTRE
RADIO SHACK DAISYWHEEL PRINTER II £950
60 CHARACTERS PER SECOND - THE FASTEST DAISYWHEEL PRINTER
* EXCELLENT PRINT QUALITY - SUPERIOR TO MOST FAMOUS
MAKES * BUILT IN PROPORTIONAL SPACING * LOOK AHEAD LOGIC
* USES RICOH RP 1600 DAISYWHEELS
Heavy duty commercial daisywheel printer,
with high quality printout, coupled with low
noise necessary for office environment * 124
chrs * upper/lower case * 10/12 chrs per inch
giving 126 & 163 columns * 15 inch wide fric¬
tion platten * bolding * underline and a hjost
of other features.
* Centronics type Parallel interface as stan¬
dard. * Options: Series interface £60, PET In
terface £65, APPLE interface £75.
OPTIONAL Bl DIRECTIONAL |
TRACTOR FOR RICOH
RP 1600|
RADIO SHACK
DAISYWHEEL II £95
Other Daisywheel Printers
QUME RO £1550
QUMEKSR £1795
NECRO £1795
RP-1600S £1500
SUPERBRAIN
WITH NEW EXTRA
FEATURES
FROM £1795*
* 16% Greater Disc Capacity
* Faster disc Access
* Auto Repeat on all Keys
* 18 Programmable Keys
Now with multi-coloured dedicated
keys for Magic Wand and Wordstar;
the ultimate word processors.
* £-$1.80
CP/M SOFTWARE
WORD PROCESSORS
WORDSTAR £275
WORDSTAR WITH DEDICATED KEYS £340
WORDSTAR MAIL-MERGE £65
MAGIC WAND £185
MAGIC WAND WITH DEDICATED
KEYS
SPELLBINDER
SPELLBINDER WITH DEDICATED
KEYS
DATA BASE SYSTEMS
DBASE II RELATIONAL DATA BASE
CONDOR
TIM
CRITICAL PATH
ANALYSIS
MILESTONE
EPSON DUAL MODE PRINTERS
LETTER QUALITY 8 STANDARD DOT MATRIX IN ONE LOW COST UNIT
IVIX 80 F/T £395 The only full 15 width platten
LETTER LIKE PRINT QUALITY_ _
3 WAY PAPER HANDLING
1. Leterheads or A4
2. Fanfold
3. Paper Rolls
LOW NOISE
132 COLUMNS PER LINE
JAPANESE RELIABILITY
MX 80 F/T2 £425
MX 100 F/T £575
printer with dual print modes &
built in dot matrix 8 built in
hi-res. graphics.
Full specification as the
MX-80 F/T.
AUTHORISED TANDY DEALERS
COMPLETE MODEL I 48K
SYSTEM
SPECIAL OFFER: LIMITED PERIOD 48K
System - 16K keyboard, 32K Expansion In
terface, dual Disc Drives, Green VDU, com¬
plete with all cables. £999
16K keyboard with UHF Modulator £375
16K System with VDU & Cassette £475
32K Expansion Interface £289
Dual Disc Drives £399
MODEL II
from £1999 including CP/M
State-of-the-art generation computer. Over
10,000 already sold in USA. 8 slot bus en¬
sures expansion to hard discs and other
peripherals. 76 key ’professional keyboard.
Self test on power up. CP/M 2.2, TRSDOS
8- Level III BASIC are standard.
CP/M 2.2 enables a vast range of CP/M soft¬
ware to be used on the MODEL II.
MODEL
From £550
16K without disc drives
£550
48K without disc drives
£599
48K with disc drives
£1399
With Epson MX-80 and Scripsit
for Wordprocessing
£1799
£250
£185
£250
£375
£250
£75
SOFTWARE
£60
£61
£25
£45
£45
£125
TRS-80 MODEL I
ELECTRIC PENCIL (DISC)
SCRIPSIT (DISC)
SCRIPSIT (CASSETTE)
MAIL-MERGE FOR PENCIL
8 SCRIPSIT
VAT AID PROGRAMME
CCA DATA MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM
FINANCIAL PLANNER/
MODELLING
T/MAKER £175
TARGET £250
MINI-MODELLER £350
ALL PRICES ARE EXCLUSIVE OF VAT AND DELIVERY
DEALER ENQUIRIES INVITED ON ALL PRODUCTS
43 GRAFTON WAY. LONDON W1P 5LA (Opposite Maples )
OPENING HOURS: 117 MON FRI 12 4SA1 Tel: 388 6991/2
24 hour answer phone: 01 388 5721
THE SPECIAL LCC APPLE
SYSTEM
48K Apple, Dual 40 Track Disc Drives 8 12
£1395
£170
£175
£95
£75
£85
Green Screen Monitor
Double Vision 80x24 Card
CP/M Softcard
16K RAM (Integer) Card
Centronics Parallel Card
Serial Printer/Communications Card
£250
PCW 34
The model of good business
TUSCAN St00*c«o
COMPUTER
Tuscan - the all-British microcomputer
With a proven record of steady development behind
it, the Tuscan S100 now goes a step forward, solving
the problem of effective backup storage.
The Tuscan S100, Britain’s first S100 computer on
a single board, is now available with designed-in mini-
Winchester drive for better performance, shorter
access time and higher transfer rate. All this from
Britain’s own home-grown micro manufacturer.
Systems with printer, screen and CP/M start at
£2125 with twin floppies, and at £3625 with one
floppy and one 5-meg. mini-Winchester.
SOFTWARE. Business accounts packages start at
£800 when purchased with the Tuscan system. Word
processing packages start at £315; Database packages
start at £100.
HARDWARE. Flexibility is the key feature of all
Tuscan systems. A choice of storage capacity, video
format and graphics is available. The Tuscan S100
can read and write in sixteen different disk formats,
with a choice of 514 "or 8 "drives.
SUPPORT. The Tuscan S100, designed and built
in Britain, is backed by Transam’s substantial experi¬
ence in electronics plus a dedicated hardware and
software team. National third party maintenance is
available at ten per cent of hardware costs.
BUSINESS SYSTEM DEALERS. Business
Equipment Centre, 10 Edge Lane, Liverpool.
Tel: 263 5783. Contact: Rod Crofts.
Purley Computers, 21 Bartholomew Street, Newbury,
Berkshire. Tel: 41784. Contact: Ron Smith.
FURTHER INFORMATION. Two new cata
logues covering “systems and peripherals” and
“CP/M Software” are available, giving details of our
systems and services. Call or write for yours.
TIRAlNbAM
TRANSAM COMPONENTS LIMITED
59/61 THEOBALD’S ROAD, LONDON WC1
Tel: 01-405 5240/2113. Telex: 24224 (Ref. 1422)
PCW 35
mOCG^DCOmpUTER PRODUCTS
.INTERNATIONAL LTD.„
ROOM PCW 8 CAMBRIDGE HOUSE. CAMBRIDGE ROAD. BARKING. ESSEX IG11 8NT, ENGLAND
Telephone: 01 - 591 6511 Telex: 892395
EUROPE S LARGEST SELECTION OF MICROCOMPUTER SOFTWARE. BOOKS AND
MAGAZINES FOR THE HOBBYIST. EDUCATIONALIST
PROFESSIONAL AND RETAILER
BOOKS
BY OSBORNE
Introduction to Microcomputer Series
Vol 0 Beginners Book
Vol 1 BASIC Concepts
Vol 2 Some Real Microprocessors
Vol 2 Updating supplement set Nos 1 - 6
Vol 3: Some Real Support Devices
Vol 3: Updating supplement set Nos. 1 - 6
1 Updating supplement (Specify for Vol 2 or 3)
PET and the IEEE 488 (GPIB) Bus
8080 Programming for Logic Design
Z80 Programming for Logic Design
Z80 Assembly Language Programming
Z8000 Assembly Language Programming
6502 Assembly Language Programming
6800 Assembly Language Programming
6809 Assembly Language Programming
Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable
Payroll with Cost Accounting
General Ledger
Some Common BASIC Programs
Practical BASIC Programs
8089 1 0 Processor Handbook
The CRT Controller Handbook
The 68000 Microprocessor Handbook
Apple II User s Guide
CP/M User s Guide
16 Bit Microprocessor Handbook
4 and 8 Bit Microprocessor Handbook
8086 Book
GENERAL
See Magazines and Subscriptions!
Microprocessors from Chips to Systems
Microprocessor Interfacing Techniques
1C OP-AMP Cookbook
RTL Cookbook
Ciarcias Circuit Cellar
Buyers Guide to Microsoftware
Calculating with BASIC
Computer Programs that Work (in BASIC)
Dr Dobbs Journal Volume 1
Dr Dobbs Journal Volume 2
Dr Dobbs Journal Volume 3
Scelbi BYTE Primer
Best of Creative Computing. Vol 1
Best of Creative Computing, Vol 2
Program Design
Programming Techniques: Simulation
Numbers in Theory and Practice
PIMS—A Database Management System
Best of Interface Age—Software
Programming the Z8000
CPM Handbook
CPM Primer
K2FDOS
Microsoft BASIC University Software Inc Listings:
Home and Economics Programs
Education and Scientific Programs
£ 6.50
£9.00
£20.85
£20.85
£13.00
£20.85
£4.50
£10.95
£6.30
£6.30
£11.85
£14.85
£11.85
£7.95
£13.50
£14.85
£14.85
£14.85
£9.85
£10.25
£4.95
£4.95
£4.50
£11.50
£10.10
£15.95
£15 95
£13.50
See Osborne Books!
£9.00
£12.10
£9.85
£4.25
£ 6.00
£2.40
£4.95
£3.95
£15.50
£15.50
£15.50
£8.95
£6 95
£6 95
£4 75
£4.75
£ 6.00
£6.50
£9.95
£11.60
£12.10
£8.45
£15.50
FOR THE Z80
See Osborne Books!
Z80 Instruction Handbook (Wadsworth)
Programming the Z80 (Zacs)
Z80 Software Gourmet Guide and Cookbook
32 BASIC Programs for the TRS-80 (Level II) 16K
Introduction to the T-Bug
(Guide to TRS-80 Machine Language Monitor)
30 Programs for the Sinclair ZX80
Cambridge Collection for the ZX81
CONCERNING LANGUAGE
A Practical Introduction to PASCAL
The PASCAL Handbook
Introduction of PASCAL (Including UCSD PASCAL)
SCELBAL — BASIC Language Interpreter (Source Code
BASIC BASIC
Advanced BASIC
Users Guide to North Star BASIC
Microsoft BASIC (a guide)
Secret Guide to Computers
Fifty BASIC Exercises
PASCAL Programs for Scientists & Engineers
FOR THE 6502
See Magazines and Subscriptions!!
Best of Micro. Vol 2
Programming the 6502 (Zacs)
6502 Applications
6502 Instruction Handbook
The PET Revealed
Library of PET Subroutines
32 BASIC Programs for the PET
First Book of KIM
PET/CBM Personal Computer Guide (2nd edition)
£16 50
23.00
£3.50
£11.50
£10.25
£ 11.10
£4 95
£6.95
£4 95
£4.95
£11.50
£9 10
£ 10.00
£7.15
£6.60
£ 10.00
£7.15
£4.00
£10.25
£12.70
£5.50
£10.25
£10.25
£3.50
£ 10.00
£ 10.00
£ 11.10
£7.00
£11.00
FOR THE 8080
See Osborne Books!
8080 Hex Code Card
8080 Octal Code Card
8080 Software Gourmet Guide and Cookbook
8080 8085 Software Design
8080 Standard Monitor
8080 Standard Assembler
8080 Standard Editor
8080 Special Package: Monitor. Editor. Assembler
BASEX A Simple Language and Compiler for the 8
£2.30
£2.30
£7.15
£6.75
£8.95
£8.95
£8.95
£ 20.00
£ 6.00
FOR THE 6800
See Magazines See Osborne Books!
6800 Software Gourmet Guide and Cookbook £7.85
6800 Tracer—An aid to 6800 Program Debugging £4.50
Tiny Assembler £6 30
RA 6800 ML —An M6800 Relocatable Macro Assembler £17.50
Link 68—An M6800 Linking Loader £6.00
MONDEB—An Advanced M6800 Monitor Debugger £3.85
FOR FUN
8080 Galaxy Game
SUPER-WUMPUS—A Game in 6800 Assembler Code & BASIC
Computer Music Book
Computer Rage (a Board Game)
Introduction to TRS-80 Graphics
Take My Computer Please . . (Fiction)
Introduction to Low Resolution Graphics for PET. Apple TRS-80
Starship Simulation
Microsoft BASIC: University Software Inc.. Listings:
Fun and Games Programs 1
Fun and Games Programs 2
6502 Games
Inside BASIC Games
FOR THE NOVICE
See Magazines See Osborr
Getting Down to Business with Your Microcomputer
Getting Involved with Your Own Computer
How to Profit from Your Personal Computer
Microcomputer Potpourri
Hobby Computers are Here
New Hobby Computers
Understanding Microcomputers and Small Computer Systems
Understanding Microcomputers and Small Computer Systems
and Audio Cassette
From the Counter to the Bottom Line
Buying a Business Computer
You Just Bought a Personal What?
How to Make Money with Your Microcomputer
MAGAZINE BACK ISSUES
Micro 6502 Journal
Personal Computing
Interface Age
Dr Dobbs Journal
Computer Music Journal
Recreational Computing
BYTE
Creative Computing
Calculators and Computers
Kilobaud Microcomputing
Compute—for the 6502
68 Micro
80-Microcomputing
On Computing
S-100 Microsystems
Magazine Storage Box (holds 12)
BYTE NIBBLE REPRINTS:
a) A TMS-9900 Monitor £3.50
b) BASIC Cross-Reference Generator £1.25
c) A Micro Word Processor £4.50
d) Tiny PASCAL in 8080 Assembly Language ( e needed to use this)£13.00
e) A Tiny PASCAL Compiler £13.50
f) An APL Interpreter in PASCAL £13.00
g) Computer Assisted Flight Planning £2.35
h) Computerized Wine Cellar £2.00
i) The Design of an M6800 Lisp Interpreter £13.00
£6.95
£4.25
£6.75
£6.95
£6.30
£3.25
£ 6.00
£4.50
£10.45
£10.45
£10.25
£9.45
? Books!
£5.50
£5.50
£6.50
£1.95
£3.00
£3.00
£7.50
£9.25
£ 10.00
£9.75
£8.75
£7.00
£1.95
£2.15
£3.25
£2.15
£3.75
£2.15
£3.60
£2.15
£1.95
£3.60
£2.50
£2.15
£3.60
£1.95
£2.15
£2.15
ORDER INFORMATION
MAGAZINES: Magazine back issues that are not currently in stock are often
difficult to obtain For unavailable back issues there is a photocopying
service of £0.15 per page plus p p plus VAT
BOOKS: Most books are published in the USA and stocked in Britain by
Microcomputer Products Ltd.
We aim to keep all of these books in stock and as a result of this, most
prepaid orders are despatched by return of post.
Please add £0.75 (plus 15% VAT) towards postage for EACH book
purchased. If purchasing more than 5 books at any one time, please add
£0.15 for each extra title (over the 5).
PAYMENT: All payment must be in sterling and drawn against a UK Bank.
Send cash, cheques, postal orders, IMO. Access or Barclaycard No. to:
Microcomputer Products International Ltd.. Room PCW. 8 Cambridge
House. Cambridge Road, Barking. Essex IG11 8NT. Prices subject to
change due to fluctuations in the dollar rate.
Retailer
and OEM
terms
available
MAIL
ORDER
TELE¬
PHONE
CREDIT
CARD
ORDER
* VISIT *
Full
descriptive
Catalogue:
available
£1 —
deductable
from
first
purchase
Trade
Enquiries
Welcome
36 PCW
SOFTY is used as an EPROM-PROGRAMMER,
a production ROM CHECKER and for the
DEVELOPMENT and PRODUCTION of
PRODUCTS which contain MICRO¬
PROCESSORS and use EPROM for program
storage. _
* Price is for a BUILT and TESTED SOFTY (No kits)
including POWER SUPPLY, TV LEAD,
ROMULATOR LEAD, 90 DAY WARRANTY and
14 day money-back guarantee.
£1 69.00 + £25.35 (VAT 1 5%) = £194.35.
DATAMAN DESIGNS,
Lombard House, Dorchester, Dorset DTI 1 RX
Dorchester (0305) 68066 (UK Sales)
Maiden Newton (0300) 20700 (Export)
MONITOR or TV output (625 line UHF). Data
contents of memory visible — A Wl N DOW IN TH E
CHIP.
C) 28-KEY, 2-LEVEL KEYPAD with HEX ENTRY and EDITING
w CAPABILITY. (BYTES and BLOCKS of code can be changed,
inserted, deleted, shifted around etc.).
Q INPUT and OUTPUT: SERIAL (RS232) and PARALLEL
(Centronics) routines provide ready interface with computer
or printer.
O EMULATION of PROGRAM MEMORY in-circuit
is performed by plugging SOFTY into the ROM SOCKET.
A lead with a 24 pin DIL PLUG is supplied.
(!) CASSETTE INTERFACE.
EPROM-PROGRAMMER: an EPROM may be copied or
reprogrammed at the press of a key.
Q PERSONALITY SWITCH selects 2716, 2532, 2732.
2716
2732
2532
etc.
©
teaching!
O MONITOR or TV output (625 line UHF).
PROGRAM, STACK and REGISTER contents visible.
O 40-KEY, 3-LEVEL KEYPAD with Z80 ASSEMBLER
MNEMONICS and HEX. PROGRAM-EDIT, STEP, RUN etc.
o 24 bits of I/O can control external machinery,
indicators etc.
Q CASSETTE INTERFACE.
BEEPER gives entry and error feedback.
LED gives prompt and page number.
MENTA was designed to fulfil request of
Schools Council's Modular Courses in
Technology Project for "Microelectronics
Teaching Devices" for use in a module which
is now being tested in schools in Bromley.
Inquiries are invited from Companies and
Institutions with commitment to train
students in SYSTEM DESIGN.
MENTA is from the same stable asthe SOFTY
development systems.
*Price is for a SAMPLE UNIT with POWER
SUPPLY and TV LEAD. £115 + £17.25 (15%
VAT) = £132.25.
DATAMAN DESIGNS,
Lombard House, Dorchester, Dorset DTI 1 RX
Dorchester (0305) 68066 (UK sales)
Maiden Newton (0300) 20700 (Export)
PCW 37
Companies like Shell UK Oil, Gnndlays Bank, W.H. Smith, government departments and hundreds of firms
from multinational corporations to sole traders and small businesses have licensed Computech
software. Why?
Thirty years experience of business fifteen years experience of computing and dedication to serving the
users' interests economically must be major contributions. By the time this advertisement appears about
1000 business software packages will have been installed and supported by us. Note other features which
appeal to our customers - no special equipment, all configurations of Apple systems supported, no extra
charge for lifetime support, hot-line service, economical use of hardware resources, program code supplied,
modifications allowed, full validation, all accountancy requirements satisfied, all data written to disk and
recoverable on demand, very simple operation, emulation of traditional manual methods, comprehensive
manuals with sample reports, reliable operation, advisory bulletins and free fixing of bugs, (which is
fortunately rare). Reduced licence fee for new versions with extra features. As approved dealers of Apple
products and actual manufacturers of compatible hardware we combine the knowledge o f hardware and
software so essential for the application of microcomputers.
COMPUTECH SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE INCLUDES:
Payroll for 350 employees, 100 departments, all pay periods, printed payslips, approved year end
documents, very quick and easy to use, £375. Sales, Purchases and General Ledgers £295 each,
detailed statements. Job Costing and Group Consolidation are amongst many and various applications
of the General Ledger package, which supports values to totals of one thousand million accurate to a
penny! Our Utilities Disk available like other packages in 13 sector or 16 sector format, is widely used for
reliable, error checking, copying, including single drive, and the renowned DPATCH program beloved of
programmers for £20. We have developed a Terminal Utilities package which enables Apple to Apple
and Apple to mainframe communications with local processing and storage as well as Apple to host
communications from the amazingly low price of £130. Our Graphics Utilities program for use with the
Microline and Epson families of printers enable the plain paper production on low cost printers of high
resolution screen pictures, graphs etc. - free with Microlines or £30 separately Keyboard Driver enables
the use of our Lower Case adaptor with BASIC programs and Applewriter Patches supplied FREE
with our character generator package (total cost £50) is separately available on disk with documents for
£10. At the same price CAI (convert Apple pictures for ITT) makes binary high resolution picture files
display properly on the ITT 2020. We sell the famous Visicalc for £125 and have delivered systems using
it to do amazing things like production control, shipping accounts and stocks and shares valuations! The
versatile Applewriter word-processing package at only £42, especially employed with our Lower Case
Character Generator is widely used by people who cannot type to produce word-perfect copy! Experience
with Apple systems has led to the design and manufacture of compatible products with enhanced features
at very favourable prices to satisfy users' needs. These include the Diplomat Serial Interface which has
handshaking capability and switchable options (£80), the Diplomat Parallel Interface which enables the
direct use of text and graphics with the Microline and Epson printers and is a complete 'plug in and go'
item with gold-plated e.dge-connector at £80 and has optional direct connection for Centronics 730/737
printers. Our new Diplomat Communications Card at £95 is a sophisticated peripheral especially suitable
for Apple to mainframe communications at high speeds in full duplex mode with switch selectable bit
rates and other options. The Lower Case adaptor is available for Apples (revision 7 and earlier) as well as
ITT 2020, complete with diskette software for £50 It offers true descenders on screen and the £ sign. We
also have an Optional Character Generator for the ever popular Microline M80 at £15 This provides
£ sign and improved digits and lower case characters with USASCII special symbols. Our price for the
Microline M80, with graphics, 40, 80 and 132 characters per line, friction, sprocket and teleprinter feed,
is only £345, amazing for this small, quiet reliable 'look alike' printer. Tractor option is £40 and Serial
Adaptor £80 The Microline M82 bidirectional printer with both parallel and serial input is only £525, it
can have an optional 2K buffer, while the Microline M83 full width adjustable tractor 120 cps printer with
similar specification is only £775 Then for all computer users there is the unique Micromux which from
£800 provides up to 16 ports for simultaneous independent serial asynchronous communications! Telephone
for data sheets or to arrange a demonstration or for the address of our nearest dealer Please hurry - the
demand for our products has been such that some have been temporarily out of stock. We offer the
effective low cost solutions you need Prices exclude V.A.T., carriage and packing.
COMPUTECH SYSTEMS
IBB, Finchley Road. London NW3 6HP. Tel: O1-T04 0200
AGENTS THROUGHOUT THE UK AND OVERSEAS
^ COMPUTECH for ^^Cippkz
ITT
Come and see us on Stand 1230 Ground Floor Grand Hall
NEW! A Mailing, Merging Document Processor
CHAIN MAIL-only £45
COMPUTECH SOFTWARE & HARDWARE IS WIDELY ACCLAIMED WHY?
PCW38
PHONE JANNETTE BROOKS
on 0925-810828 or
SEND COUPON
AND GET THE FACTS-
NOW!
1
Expands capacity 20 times!
The Beeblebox gives you:
• 10 megabytes of plug-in Winchester storage
for Apple systems
• integral Shugart® floppy disc drive for
fast back-up
• plug-in e-x-p-a-n-s-i-o-n capability, via
revolutionary Apple Host adapter
• switch on and go operation...adapted
operating system included!
• full guarantee and service back-up
• host adaptors shortly to be available for
all popular makes of micros
To: Lisiar Computers Ltd.,
Genesis Birchwood Science Park South,
Risley, Warrington, Cheshire, WA13 7BH.
Please send full details of the low-cost,
Apple-enhancing Beeblebox
Please tick:
1 am an existing Apple user
□
1 own another micro system
□
(State name)
I am interested
in learning about dealerships
□
Name_
Address
DEALERSHIP ENQUIRIES
WELCOME
Telephone
L
Reliability assured with SHUGART" Technology.
J
PCW 39
THE MEMORABLE
64k STATIC BOARD
Exported, not imported.
The ultimate in reliability.
A new high technology product from Transam, the ME3
64K static SI 00 memory board is the first standard
SI 00 card to hold a full 64K of static RAM (low
power CMOS 200nS parts). It has the
added advantage of doubling as an
EPROM card for 2516 EPROMs,
and is suitable for all SI 00
computers.
Designed and manufactured
in the UK and available now.
• Expandable from 0-64k
of RAM or EPROM in 2k
blocks, one chip at a time.
• Maskable in 8k
boundaries and
selectable in 8k blocks
(FFFFto E000
selectable in 2k blocks).
• Phantom disable
implemented.
• RAM and EPROM can be
resident on the same card.
ME3 assembled
with 16k RAM
£162 excl. VAT
Dealer and OEM enquiries
welcome. For further details
please contact:
TIRAN^AM
TRANSAM COMPONENTS LIMITED
59/61 THEOBALD’S ROAD
LONDON WC1
Tel: 01-405 5240/2113
Telex: 24224 (Ref. 1422)
PCW40
LSI-11/23 128Kb MOS
96Mb Disk Drive
VT100-AB
RT-11 License
Cost £15,950*
we add more to
DEC
at lower cost
TSX-Plus
Provides functionality of
the DEC R RT-11 operating
system for up to 12 terminals.
Increase productivity of RT-11
systems. Contains no RT-11
emulator.
Cost £1,250
TSX-Net
Allows implementation of
business and scientific
applications requiring
distributed processing
networks of TSX-Plus/RT-11
systems. Allows multiple
systems to share resources.
Cost £750
(R Registered trademark
Digital Equipment Co. Ltd.
Wilkes
LComputingJ
Bush House, 72 Prince Street, Bristol BS14HU
Tel (0272) 25921 Telex 449205
* Price is for fully
supported system
excluding V.A.T.
PCW41
IF VOU DON'T WANT fl MORE PROCESSING DOCUMENT
THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS ,
YOU NEED A PRINTER THAT PRINTS LIKE THIS
.
The more your system can do, the better your
terminal should be. That’s why, if you’re adding
text editing capability to your data processing
system, you should also think about adding a
quality daisywheel terminal to replace the matrix
terminal you’re using now. And the best-quality
terminal you can buy is one by Qume.
A printer for every application.
No matter what application you choose,
Qume makes a printer to fit it.
Like our Sprint 5® KSR and RO, which
have achieved the reputation for being the
easy-to-use leader in letter-perfect terminals.
You can have 50 different typestyles to use with
it, including APL, scientific symbols and
international character sets.
And there’s the Sprint 5 Wide-Track® with
RS-232C interface. The first character printer
data terminal in the world capable of handling
paper up to 28 inches wide. That’s a full 264-
column printing area. Sprint 5 Wide-Track adds
an entirely new dimension to the printed word.
The best backup in the business.
Not only do we make the best printers, but
we also provide the best support to back up
what we sell. That means excellent service to
the OEM and the end user, and one of the best
supplies programs in the business.
So if you’re getting ready to upgrade your
system, then it’s time you upgraded your
printer as well. To a Qume.
Ask about the NEW Sprint 7 and 9 models.
For more information Qume UK
contact your authorised
DISTRIBUTOR
ACCESS DATA COMMUNICATIONS LTD.. ^
Eskdale Road, Uxbridge Industrial Estate,
Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 2RT.Tel: (0895) 30831.
BYTECH LIMITED, Suttons Industrial Park,
London Rd, Earley, Reading RG6 lAZ.Tel: (0734) 61031.
DAISY TERMINALS LIMITED. Bridge Road,
Haywards Heath, West Sussex.Tel: (0444) 57546.
FACIT. Maidstone Road. Rochester, Kent.
Tel: (0634) 401721.
ISG DATA SALES LIMITED. Unit 9, Fairacres Ind. Estate.
Dedworth Road. Windsor, Berkshire. Tel: (07535)57955.
ROHAN COMPUTING LIMITED, 52 Coventry Street,
Southam, Warwickshire.Tel: (092681)4045.
Qume,
Qume (UK) Limited Tel: (0734) 584646. Telex: 849706.
- A British Company of ITT -
PCW42
Step by step with the
computer system
designed for
tomorrow. Microtan 65
* 6502 Microprocessor
* 2K Monitor TANBUG
* Intelligent socket accepts keypad
or full ASCII Keyboard
* Chunky Graphics and Lower Case
Options
* Connects to unmodified B/W or
Colour TV
For the first time buyer or experienced
user, Microtan 65 is a superb route into
personal computing. If you are looking
for a sophisticated machine with the
capability of expansion into a
professional system, then this is the
C?7Q*00 Ready
L / «J +VAT Built
£ 69 '
□□ Kit
+VAT
computer for you. Step by step with
the computer system designed for
tomorrow....
6502 Microprocessor
Probably the most popular CPU
(central processing unit) for personal
computers, having a powerful
instruction set and architecture.
2K Monitor TANBUG
The built-in ‘mind’ of the machine,
TANBUG controls all system functions
and gives comprehensive machine-
code facilities. Functions include:- set
and clear breakpoints, single step
through program, execute program,
copy block of memory, modify memory
locations and much more.
Intelligent keyboard socket
For absolute beginners we can supply
an easy to use 20-way Hex keypad; for
the more experienced user there is a
full typewriter style ASCII keyboard.
Either way, Microtan will work out
exactly which type you are using and
act appropriately.
Chunky Graphics Options
For drawing simple lines and graphs,,
or for animated games, Chunky
Graphics is a low cost answer. This set
of chips plug into the Microtan board
and allow graphics to be built up on
the screen at a resolution of 64 rows
by 64 columns.
Lower Case Option
To extend the character set to 128
characters, allows for real descenders
on lower case characters and a set of
extra symbols and characters for
simple graphics.
Microtan Accessories
20-way Hex keypad MPS 1 Basic power
supply
Aerial connector lead
Full ASCII Keyboard
MPS 2 Full system
power supply
Mini — motherboard
Microtan is available
ready-built or as a kit.
We recommend that
you should have some
soldering experience
before attempting the
Microtan Kit, although
if you do run into
problems you can
make use of our “Get
you Going” service
(telephone for details).
TAN EX
7K Static Ram
10K Microsoft Basic
32 Parallel I/O lines
1 Serial I/O port
XBUG
Cassette Interface
★
★
★
★
★
★
The first step in expanding your
system. Tanex provides the extra
facilities necessary for the serious
programmer. Memory expansion:
Tanex has provisions for up to 7K of
static RAM and up to 14K of EPROM
using 2716 or 2732 chips.
XBUG and BASIC
XBUG is a 2K extension to TANBUG
that contains a mnemonic assembler
and disassembler and cassette
firmware running at 300 Baud CUTS,
standard or high speed, 2400 Baud
Tangerine standard with 6 character
filenames. Tangerine have taken out a
full O.E.M. licence for Microsoft BASIC,
the microcomputer industry standard,
this is a full feature implementation
with interrupt and machine code
handling, and a superb program editor.
Both XBUG and
BASIC plug directly
into Tanex and are
supplied with comprehensive user
manuals.
Parallel I/O
When fully expanded Tanex includes
two V.I.A.s (Versatile Interface
Adaptors) which implement the
cassette interface and the parallel I/O
ports. Software in TANBUG V2.3
enables you to plug in and use a
Centronics type printer. The two V.I.A.s
also contain counter timers that can
be used for a variety of applications
enhanced by the use of the integral
handshake facilities.
Serial I/O
Also on the expanded board is a serial
I/O port that can be used to interface
RS232 or 20Ma loop terminals or
VDU’s, again all controlled by TANBUG
V2.3.
Whether Tanex is purchased in a
minimum or maximum configuration,
Tanex will buffer the data bus and
configure the system memory map for
maximum expansion.
To complete Tanex, a
comprehensive user guide is supplied
which contains full constructional
details. This manual is also available
separately.
TANEX options
10K extended MICROSOFT BASIC
Serial I/O Kit
Extra RAM (2114s)
XBUG
6522 V.I.A.
2716 EPROM for your own software
Tanex (Min Config) Kit £50.95 inc VAT and P & P
Tanex (Min Config) Assembled £62.45 inc VAT and P & P
Expanded Tanex Kit £104.66 inc VAT and P & P
Expanded Tanex Assembled £116.16 inc VAT and P & P
cangennc
Forehill Works, Ely,
Cambs. CB7 4AE.
PCW43
INTERNAL DRIVE PRICES
1 x 40 TRACK DRIVE £420
2 x 40 TRACK DRIVES £599
1 x 80 TRACK DRIVE £490
2 x 80 TRACK DRIVES £729
INTERNAL DRIVE PRICES INCLUDE
DISK CONTROLLER BOARD, POWER
SUPPLY UNIT AND ALL CABLES
AND CONNECTORS REQUIRED FOR
INSTALLATION.
EXTERNAL DRIVE PRICES
1 x 40 TRACK DRIVE £236
2x40 TRACK DRIVES £440
1 x 80 TRACK DRIVE £299
2 x 80 TRACK DRIVES £569
EXTERNAL 2 DRIVE CABLE 15.50
EXTERNAL DRIVES ARE DIRECTLY
COMPATIBLE WITH THE TRS 80
MODEL I AND VIDEO GENIE
EXPANSION INTERFACES.
Call your nearest dealer for more information:
RADIO SHACK LTD ,
188, Broadhurst Gardens.
London NW6
Tel. 01-624 7174
COMPSHOP LTD.,
14, Station Road,
New Barnet, Herts
Tel 01441 2922
COMPSHOP LTD.,
311, Edgware Road,
London W2
Tel 01-262-0387
COMPSHOP LTD.,
19, Herbert Street,
Dublin 2
Tel 604165
LONDON COMPUTER
CENTRE, 43. Grafton
Way, London W1
Tel 01-388-5721
N.I.C.
61, Broad Lane,
London N1 5
Tel: 01-808-0377
CROYDON COMPUTER
CENTRE, 29a, Bngstock
Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey.
Tel 01-689 1280
P J EQUIPMENT LTD .
3 Br.dge Street.
Guildford
Tel 0483-504801
R.D.S. ELECTRICAL
LTD., 157 161 , Kingston
Road, Portsmouth
Tel 0705-812478
TANDY HASTINGS
LTD., 48, Queens Road,
Hastings.
Tel 0424431849
MICROWARE
COMPUTING
SERVICES, 57. Queen
Charlotte Street, Bristol
Tel 0272-279560
BLANDFORD
COMPUTERS, Higher
Shaftsbury Road,
Blandford Forum
Tel 0258-53737
TAPE SHOP
32i Viaduct Road,
Brighton.
Tel 0273-609099
PARWEST LTD.,
18 St Mary Street,
Chippenham.
Tel 0249 2131
COMPUTER SHACK
14. Pittville Street,
Cheltenham.
Tel 0242 584343
ENSIGN,
13-19, Milford Street,
Swindon, Wilts.
Tel 079342615
TANDY
GLOUCESTER,
13, Clarence Street,
Gloucester
Tel 0452-31323
COMSERVE,
98, Tavistock Street,
Bedford
Tel 0234 216749
CLEARTONE
COMPUTERS, Prince of
Wales Ind. Estate,
Abercarn, Gwent
Tel 0495 244555
EMPRISE LTD.,
58, East Street,
Colchester.
Tel 0206-865926
MAGNUS MICRO
COMPUTERS,
1 39 The Moors,
Kidlmgton, Oxford.
Tel 08675-6703
CAMBRIDGE
COMPUTER STORE,
1, Emmanuel Street,
Cambridge
Tel 0223-65334
I.C. ELECTRONICS,
Flagstones,
Stede Quarter,
Biddenden, Kent.
Tel: 0508-291816
MICRO CHIP SHOP,
1 90, Lord Street,
Fleetwood, Lancs.
Tel 03917 79511
MICRO CHIP SHOP,
197, Waterloo Road,
Blackpool
Tel 0253403122
MICRO CHIP SHOP.
93. Friargate,
Preston, Lancs
Tel 0772 22669
HARDEN MICRO
SYSTEMS. 28 30, Back
Lord Street, Blackpool,
Tel 0253-27590
NORTH WEST
COMPUTER
CONSULTANTS LTD.,
214 Market Street,
Hyde, Cheshire
Tel 061 366-8624
HEWART MICRO
ELECTRONICS,
95, Blakelow Road,
Macclesfield
Tel 0625-22030
KARADAWN LTD.,
2 Forest Way.
Great Sankey,
Warrington.
Tel 0925 572668
PHOTO ELECTRICS,
4 59 London Road.
Sheffield
Tel 0742-53865
BRIARWOOD
COMPUTER SERVICES.
Briarwood House,
Preston Street,
Bradford.
Tel 0274-306018
CUMANA LTD
35 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, Surrey, GUI 4UN.
Telephone: (0483) 503121.
THOMAS WRIGHT LTD .
Thorite House,
Laisterdyke,
Bradford
Tel 0274-663471
GNOMIC LTD.,
46, Middle Street,
Blackhall,
Hartlepool.
Tel 0783-863871
BRIERS COMPUTER
SERVICES. 1. King
Edward Square,
Middlesborough,
Clevland.
Tel: 0642 242017
3 LINE COMPUTING,
36, Clough Road Hull
Tel: 0482445496
H.C. COMPUTER
SALES LTD., 182.
Earlsway Team Valley
Trading Estate,
Gateshead.
Tel: 0632-874811
EWL COMPUTERS LTD..
8, Royal Crescent,
Glasgow.
Tel: 041-332 7642
° Please add VA T to all prices.
Delivery at cost will be advised
at time of order.
ALL DEVICES BRAND NEW FULL SPEC. AND FULLY GUARANTEED ORDERS
DESPATCHED BY RETURN OF POST. TERMS OF BUSINESS CASH/CHEQUE/
P.O.s OR BANKDERS DRAFT WITH ORDER. GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION
AL INSTITUTIONS OFFICIAL ORDERS ACCEPTED (TELEPHONE ORDERS BY
ACCESS NOW ACCEPTED Minimum £10.00 please) TRADE AND EXPORT
INQUIRY WELCOME. P&P ADD 50p TO ALL ORDERS UNDER £10.00 NETT
WAT Export orders on V.A.T. Applicable to UK Customers only. Unless stated
otherwise all prices are exclusive of VAT. Please add 15% to the total cost
incl. p&p.
We stock many more items. It pays to visit us. We are behind Watford Football ground
Nearest Underground/Br Rail Station Watford High St. Open Monday to Saturday
9am — 6pm. Ample Free Car Parking space available.
COMPUTER
1702
1802
2101-2
2112-2
2114-4 50n
2114L-300n
2114L-200n
2532-450n
2708
2716-5V
2732-450n
4027
4116-3
4118 250n
4315CMOS
4334 3
4864-3
6116
6502CPU
6503
6505
6520PIA
6522VIA
6530RRIOT
6532RIOT
6545CRTC
6551ACIA
6592PC
6800
6802
6803
6808
6809
6810
6821
6840
6843
6845
6847
6850
6852
8085A
81LS95
81LS96
81LS97
8212
8214
8216
8251
8753
8255
8257
8T26A
8 T 28 A
8T31A
8T95N
8T97N
AY-3-1015
AY-5-1013
AY-5-23 76
MCI 488
MCI 489
MC14411
MC14412
RO 3-2513U
RO-3 2513L
SFF96364E
IM6402
SFC71301
TMS2716-3V
TMS4027
TMS6011
TMS9900J
TMS9980A
Z80CPU2.5M
Z80ACPU4M
Z80PIO
Z80A PIO
Z80CTC
Z80A CTC
Z80SIO-1
Z80A SIO
Z80DART
Z80A DART
ZN423
ZN426
ZN427
ZN428
ZN429
ZN1034
ZN 1040
ICs:
325
720
250
250
99
110
130
725
225
250
725
240
89
530
99b
325
£12
£11
495
850
795
325
495
1350
795
1450
785
£26
375
550
1350
520
£13
175
176
470
1459
£12
795
175
225
450
550
115
115
115
210
425
200
400
799
399
800
90
395
350
700
62
62
695
800
600
850
950
420
820
875
240
365
£36
£20
390
550
400
440
400
440
£15
£23
726
776
195
325
625
478
210
200
685
TTL74 TEXAS
7400 t
7401 1
7402 1
7403 1
7404 i
7405 1
7406 2
7407 2
7408 1
7409 1
7410 l
7411 2
7412 2
7413 2
7414 3
7416 2
7417 2
7420 1
7421 2
7422 2
7425 2
7426 2
7427 2
7428 2
7430 1
7432 2
7433 2
7437 2
7438
27
7440
17
7441
68
7442
38
7443
90
7444
90
7445
65
7446
55
7447
50
7448
50
7472
30
7473
30
7474
25
7475
40
7476
30
7480
48
7481
120
7484
80
7485
95
7486
26
7489
205
7490
28
7492
30
7493
30
74100
85
74110
40
74111
55
74112
170
74116
88
74118
80
74119
90
74120
75
74121
30
74122
45
74123
50
74125
42
74126
40
74132
48
74136
35
74143
250
74144
250
74145
70
74147
99
74148
75
74150
80
74151
45
74153
45
74154
75
74155
75
74156
75
74157
45
74159
99
7<* ICO
60
74161
60
74162
62
74163
64
74164
64
74165
62
74166
65
74167
185
74170
168
7417?
290
74173
65
74174
72
74175
72
74176
55
74177
75
74178
95
74179
68
74180
65
74181
140
74182
75
74184
99
74185
99
74188
290
74190
70
74191
70
74192
70
74193
65
74194
75
74195
65
74196
65
74197
65
74198
99
74199
99
74221
80
'4246
150
74247
150
74248
150
74249
150
74251
80
74265
65
74273
195
74278
160
74279
90
74283
90
74284
199
74285
199
74290
105
74293
125
74297
236
74298
100
74365
55
74366
55
74367
55
74368
55
74390
99
74393
99
74490
120
74LS
TEXAS
74LSOO
12
LS01
13
LS02
14
LS03
14
LS04
15
LS05
15
, LS06
15
LS08
15
LS09
15
LS10
15
LS11
15
LS12
15
LS13
30
LS14
LSI 5
LS20
LS21
LS22
LS26
LS27
LS28
LS30
LS32
LS33
LS37
LS38
LS40
LS42
LS47
LS48
LS49
LS51
LS54
LS55
LS63
LS73
LS74
LS75
LS76
LS78
LS83
LS85
LS86
LS90
LS91
LS92
LS93
LS95
LS96
LS107
LS109
LS112
LS113
LSI 14
LSI 22
LSI 23
LSI 24
LSI 25
LSI 26
LSI 32
LSI 33
LSI 36
LSI 38
LSI 39
LSI 45
LS147
LSI 48
LSI 51
LSI 53
LS155
LSI 56
LSI 57
LSI 58
LS160
LS161
LS162
LSI 63
I S'.64
U.165
■_S166
LSI 70
LSI 73
l SI 74
LSI 75
LS181
«. SI 83
LSI 90
LS191
LS192
LSI 93
LSI 94
LS195
LSI 96
LSI 97
LS200
LS202
LS221
LS240
LS241
LS242
LS243
LS244
LS245
LS247
LS248
LS249
LS251
LS253
LS257
LS258
LS259
LS261
LS266
LS.273
LS275
LS279
LS280
LS283
LS290
LS293
LS295
LS298
LS299
LS300
LS302
LS320
LS323
LS324
LS325
LS326
LS373
75
LS374
48
LS375
90
LS377
69
LS378
69
LS379
250
LS384
250
LS385
378
LS386
28
LS390
62
LS393
60
LS395
199
LS396
190
LS398
275
LS399
220
LS445
140
LS447
195
LS471
620
LS490
245
LS541
135
LS571
620
LS640
225
LS641
225
LS645
210
LS668
175
LS669
150
LS670
175
LS673
550
LS674
750
74L
74L00
68
74L30
50
74L47
380
74L75
145
74L85
349
74L121
165
74L123
325
74S series
74SOO
60
74S04
73
74S132
138
74S138
240
74S158
240
74S188
210
74S189
158
74S194
380
74S195
795
74S201
74S241
540
74S262
850
74S287
325
74S288
210
74S470
325
74S472
1150
74S475
825
74S571
620
75 series
75108
350
75150
140
75154
150
75450
95
75451
70
74454
225
75491
89
75492
95
CRYSTALS
1 001< H 2
290
200 KHz
370
455KHz
370
1 0MHz
295
1 008MHz
290
1.28MHz
392
1.6MHz
323
1 8MHz
323
1 3432MHz
240
2.0MHz
240
2.4576MHz
300
3.2768MHz
240
3.57954M
150
3.6864 M
300
4 0MHz
240
4 032MHz
290
4 19430M
270
4.433619M
120
5 0MHz
240
5.185MHz
300
5 24288M
390
6.0MHz
240
6.144MHz
240
6 5536MHz
290
7 0MHz
290
7 163MHz
290
7.680MHz
300
8.0MHz
240
8 08333M
362
8 867237M
240
9 375MHz
323
100MHz
240
10.7MHz
270
12 0MHz
290
14 31818M
320
16 0MHz
275
18 0MHz
290
18 432M
240
19 968MHz
300
20.0MHz
323
26.0MHz
383
26 69MHz
290
27 1 45MHz
240
27 643MHz
323
38 6667M
290
48 0MHz
270
100 0MHz
323
1 16 0MHz
300
DIL SOCKETS
(Texas) Low
Win;
Prof
Wrap
8 pm 8p
25p
14 pm lOp
35p
16 pin lOp
42p
18 pin 16p
52p
20 pm 22p
60o
22 pm 25p
70p
24 pm 25p
7 Op
28 pm 28p
80p
36 pm
105p
40 pin 30p
99p
OIL PLUGS (Headers)
14 pm
44p 24 pm 88p
16 pm
49p. 40 p n 255p
D CONNECTORS
(Cannon Typel
Plastic
Plugs
Sockets Covers
9 way 95p
125p 1 45p
15 way 135p
198p 170p
25 way 198p
284p 195p
37 way 290p
398p 21 Op
AMPHENOL PLUGS
IEEE 575p Centronics 675p
DIL
EDGE
Switches
(SPSTI
CONNECTORS
4 way 70p
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6 way 85p
2x10 ways
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2x15 way
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2 x 22 wav lG0i>
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2 x 36 wav 23bp
4 way 190p
2 x 40 way ?6 5p
2 X 43 way ?80 p
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(Ribbon Cable Assemblies)
Smi|i. ••nil DIP .
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6‘ 185p
205p 300p
465p
12" 195p
21 5p 315p
490p
24" 215p
235p 350p
540p
36" 230p
250p 375p
595p
ZERO FORCE: DIL Sockets
24 way 650p
28 wav 820p 40
wav 975p
At last it is here, the long-awaited
Commodore's VIC20 Microcomputer.
Connects directly to any colour (or
B&W) TV set. Sound reproduced
through TV Speaker (Music, Lan¬
guage and other Sound effects).
Has PET type graphics. Standard
PET Basic. Full size keyboard. Has
5K Memory expandable to 32K on
Board. Attractively Cased.
All this for:
Only £165
Cassette Deck including a free 6
programme Cassette £34
mmnuvioiu
Watford's Ultimate
Monitor 1C
A 4K Monitor Chip especially
designed to produce the best from
your Superboard II, Superboard II
Series II, UK101, and Enhanced
Superboard. Facilities available
are: Full Screen Editing — Home
cursor/screen clear facility True
insert/ delete — Fully programmable
cursor control with meaningful
sumbols on screen - Single Key
Basic — True ASCII Keyboard
routine Auto remote control of
tape recorder (requires only a relay)
- Open line facility — Named Tape
files Two Key Video Swop (Series
II only) — Bell (Series II only)
Cursor Indication of quotes mode
User definable flashing cursor
character — User controllable
command vectoring for your own
machine code routines - Full or
partial scroll-up or down (callable
by programs) — Au[o list on er*-or -
Single command save (automat.cally
returns "List") Centronics
compatible printer driver Monitor
Functions include: Scrolling list in
Data mode Warm restart vector -
Fill memory — Search memory —
Two save & three load routines —
Floppy disc vector - Break handling
routines — Tabular display of memory.
All this for Only: £19.95
ETI/WATFORD'S MICRO
EXPANSION SYSTEM
This versatile economical Expansion
System as published in ETI Oct 1981
issue provides a cheap but reliable
Expansion possibility for most of
the popular Microcomputers.
Send SAE for details.
VOLTAGE REGULATORS
1 A, TO220 Plastic Case
+5V, + 12V, +15V, +18V
50 p
1 A -5V, -12V, -15V, -18V 55p
78H05 5A/5V 550p; 79HG 850p
78HG
650p; LM309K 135p
(p&p £4)
This unihammer dot matrix printer
gives normal and double width
characters as well as dot resolution
Graphic.
•Printing Speed 30CPS.
• Character Set 5x7 matrix.
• Print Density 12CPL @ 80CPL
• Paper Feed 8" Tractor
• Parallel Interface Standard.
Other Interfaces available.
IEEE/488, PET, TANDY,
APPLE, RS232
EPSON
TXBO
SPECIAL OFFER
A complete
80 Column (p&p £5)
Dot Matrix Printer
available in tractor or friction feed
Speed: 125cps — Unidirectional
Print-PET Compatible Graphics.
Various Interfaces available.
VIDEO GENIE
A Complete System. Ideal for Schools,
Colleges or as a small business system.
16K Users RAM 12K Microsoft Basic,
in ROM. 64 x 16 line display 128 x
48 dot graphics resolution - Software
compatible with TRS80 level II
Built in Cassette Recorder - Output
and control for second cassette
Full expansion via Expansion box to
Disc/Printer. Basic demonstration tape
Three manuals. The computer
connects straight to a Domestic TV
set or Monitor.
Only
(p&p 4.50)
SOFTY -2
The complete
microprocessor development system
for the engineers & beginners, now
supplied fully built, tested & with
encapsulated Power Supply. Enclosed
in neat Black ABS Case - Displays
memory contents on TV - New
powerful instructions can replace
monitor ROM to test & develop
programs Serial/parallel Input/
Output routine for interfacing to
Computer/Printer - New improved
touch Keyboard — Fast cassette
interface On board EPROM (any
single rail 5V 24pin chip) programmer
— Copies software - Supplied fully
tested and guaranteed.
All this for ° n, y £169
ACCESSORIES
• TEX Eprom Eraser
£33
• TEX Eprom Eraser with
30 min. Electronic timer
£45
• Full ASCII Keyboard ”756''
£39
Micro Case Beige/Brown ABS
Attractive, for Superboard, UK101
£26
• Numeric Keypad
£9
• ASTEC UHF Modulator 8MH2
450p
• ASTEC UHF Modulator 6MH2
280p
• 9” B & W Monitor Cased
£69
• 8 V 2 " Fan Fold Paper (500)
595p
• 9Vj'' Fan Fold Paper
596p
• Teleprinter Roll
350p
PCW 45
Xitan
South Coast Leaders in
Microcomputer Support
Application and Service
Xitan - First for Business fir
Commercial Systems
Xitan's specialised Administrative and
Operational Microcomputer Systems
provide cost effective computer support
for wide ranging business organisations;
from low entry level, stand alone
systems for the smaller business, to
integrated multiuser/multitasking
systems to meet the more specific needs
of the larger business enterprise.
Xitan - First in Science and
Research
Xitan support the more personalised
requirements of the scientific and
research users universities and colleges,
and in government and independent
research establishments with
comprehensive practical experience
embracing hardware, system, and
applicational software.
mm
SYSTEMS
Xitan - First in Industry
Xitan's depth in microcomputer
experience is playing an increasing role
in the rapidly developing industrial
applications for production and process
control, and in product and production
development operations.
Xitan - First for Service
Xitan's local reputation is founded
securely on Service- both in system
development- software and
hardware support, and service in the
field.
^itan Systems Ltd 23 Cumberland Place Southampton SOI 2BB Tel: 0703 38740
Cromemco sharp North Star Horizon comart
PCW 46
Adda Computers Ltd., a major supplier of computer systems
"to industry and business, have opened the Vic Centre in
"West London. Here you can see, discuss and buy everything to do with
the new VIC 20 personal computer—in person or by mail. Hardware,
software, technical advice and information is available from an experienced
staff of experts. Even if you already own a VIC 20, get on our mailing list to
know about new developments. Remember—everything has the backing of
Adda’s reputation, and there’s a full 12-month warranty on all hardware.
The Vic Centre is easy to reach—Just off theA40, close to North Acton tube
Mon.
Not just a computer but a whole
expandable system
AT ONLY £189-95 inc.VAT. Special cassette deck
£44-95 inc.VAT.
The VIC 20 is a fully-fledged, easy-to-use computer. It’s the core of
a great expandable system, with full-size keyboard operation.
First-time users can work it immediately with plug-in program
cartridges, using your own colour TV to get up to 24 colours on
screen, and three different sound tones. Or write your own programs
in BASIC. The VIC 20 lets you build a system as needs and budget
dictate. You can expand its memory to 32k Byte with Plug-in
modules, and transfer data to external storage units. So the VIC 20
is more than just a personal computer—and its system will expand
to put it even further ahead.
VIC 20 Dot Matrix Printer
Tractor-feed, 80 character-per-line, 30 characters-per-second printer.
£229.95 incl VAT.
£56.35 incl VAT.
VIC-RS232 INTERFACE
Fully implemented (true levels)
RS232C-V24
BI-DIRECTIONAL INTERFACE
Allows Vic to work as Mainframe Terminal
Drive a Qume Daisywheel or a Paper Tape
Punch etc. etc.
FEATURE This unit contains master power
supply which supports Vic’s own supply
when carrying Memory Expansions,
Cassette Drives, Light Pens, Printers etc.
VIC-MEMORY 3K
Small size—low cost memory expansion.
Plugs into Vic and reproduces memory-port.
Can be used with other expansions gives a
total of 6k user static ramon Vic.
FEATURE This board allows Vic to move
Basic to begin at 1024 ($0400) as in Pet,
and enables the use of HIGH RESOLUTION
COLOUR GRAPHICS £40.25 incl VAT.
VIC-TOOL KIT £28.75 incl VAT.
For those who know tool kit on Pet we now
have same facilities for Vic.
Renumber, Auto, Append etc.
This may be used with the stack VIC Rom
Switch Board.
VIC ROM SWITCH BOARD £40.25 incl VAT
An inexpensive unit which plugs direct on to Memory
Expansion Port of the VIC and allows the insertion of up
to 4 ROMS for games packs or toolkit aids, etc.
FEATURE. Simple software switch exchanges each pair of
ROMS into VIC’s ROM space allowing ‘clashing’ ROMS to be
used.
FEATURE. Plug-in zero force sockets are available as optional
extras to help eliminate pin damage to valuable ROMS.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: All goods sold subject to Adda
terms and conditions of sale. Full details available
on request, but include: 7 day money back guarantee, Adda
12 month hardware warranty. Please allow 21 days for delivery.
Allow 7 days for personal cheques to be cleared. Quoted
prices are inclusive of VAT.
£28.75 incl VAT.
£14.95 incl VAT.
VIC-LIGHT PEN
This high quality light pen works in both
normal and Hi-Res modes on the Vic
allowing simple interaction with the Vic
without keyboard entry.
Easy to program and easy to use.
e.g. Menu selection. Non-keyboard entry.
Teaching Games.
FEATURE touch sensitive “Enter” contacts
to eliminate accidental entry.
VIC-Games Port Adaptor Cable
games port plug.
A two into one adaptor for use with both
joysticks and light pens. A must for those
who require full control of games with
graphics.
FEATURE low-cost High quality. Robust.
VIC JOYSTICK
Single
Hand-Held joystick units for games use
available in Pair or Single configuration.
N.B. (2 Singles will not work as a pair
unless modified)
Le Stick £30.75 incl VAT.
The ultimate joystick. One handed multi-directional super
sensitive stick with built in fire button.
£14.95 incl VAT.
Goods Required
Price
Add £2.00 p. & p. for
orders under £50.00
Name: -
Address_
Total £
SHOP ADDRESS: Adda Computers Limited.
154, Victoria Road, Acton, London, W3. Tel 01-992 9904.
OPEN: 10 am—6 pm (Tuesday —Friday), 10 am—5 pm (Saturday)
VIC software Each of these tapes £14.95 incl VAT.
Codebreaker/Codemaker
You play the VIC or the VIC plays you in this computerised
version of Mastermind.
VIC Seawolf, VIC Trap and Bounce-out
3 fun games, a submarine shoot out, a beat the VIC and an
old favourite pub game. Good games with different skill levels.
Monster Maze and Maths Hurdler
A fun game with good colour and sound and a mental arithmetic
learning game. Highly rated by everyone we have shown it to.
Harder than you think.
MAIL ORDER to: Adda Computers Limited, FREEPOST, London,
W13 0BR or telephone your order (24 hours a day) to
01-992 9904 quoting your BARCLAYCARD OR ACCESS
number.
* I enclose a cheque, made
payable to Adda Computers
Limited for
* Please charge my Barclay/Access
account. My account number is
* Please add my name to your
mailing list
* Delete as applicable
Date:.
PCW 47
MICRO
NETWORKS
PM 1000 CP/M86**
The PM 100 is remarkably low in cost
it offers one of the highest performance-to-price ratios of any "truly
intelligent" terminal available today. It boasts a full page
display. Up to 66 lines of 80 characters. Unique
proprietary word processing software and split-screen
display for comparing related documents. Best of all, An 8086
you receive your PIICEON terminals when they are
promised, no excuse^. The Moc
Languages: supportii
BASIC (Microsoft) g° in
CIS COBOL (Micro Focus) ANSI st
Future: PASCAL LOW LOW PRICES
PM 2010
An 8086 based CPU. Built on a single easily accessible
PC Board with 32K of RAM standard.
The Model 2010 is plug compatible with any computer
supporting standard ASCII terminals and is capable of
going well beyond this via the most complete set of
ANSI standardterminal control functions available in
( the industry.
A COR VUS computer disk system CORVUS DISK SYSTEMS
provides 6 11 or 20 million Bytes of
unformatted storage.
The price includes:
A single enclosure that contains
A Winchester disk drive.
A power supply and an intelligent controller.
An interface card with a 5 foot cable for
the specific computer.
System software and installation manual
mirror back-up to V.C.R.
Networking and Multiplexors.
* * CORVUS SYSTEMS
DIABLO PRINTERS
* Print speed up to 40 cps.
* RS 232 C and CCITTV.24 serial
interface.
* Full 128 ASCII Character set: 96
printable.
* More than 120 print wheel type
styles and fonts are available.
* Full word processing capability.
NEC SPINWRITERS
FULL RANGE OF SYSTEM
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
AVAILABLE
The new NEC 3500.5500 and 7700 Series of
Spinwriter™ are top quality printers setting new
standards for today's most demanding office printing tasks.
DEALERS ENQUIRIES INVITED - PHONE 01-839 3701 or VISIT OUR SHOWROOM AT 60 PALL MALL LONDON
CAMBRIDGE LEARNING self-instruction courses
It's faster and more thorough than classroom learning: you pace yourself and answer questions on each new aspect as
you go. This gives rare satisfaction-you know that you are really learning and without mindless drudgery. With a good
self-instruction course you become your own best teacher.
Understand Digital Electronics
In the years ahead digital electronics will play an increasing part in
your life. Calculators and digital watches mushroomed in the 1970's
-soon we will have digital car instrumentation, cash cards, TV
messages from friends and electronic mail.
After completing these books you will have broadened your career
prospects and increased your knowledge of the fast changing world
around you.
pigtol Computer Mrtu,
Logic and ^
Electronics
DIGITAL COMPUTER LOGIC AND
ELECTRONICS £8.50
This course is designed as an
introduction to digital electronics and
is written at a pace that suits the raw
beginner. No mathematical
knowledge is assumed other than the
use of simple arithmetic and decimals
and no electronic knowledge is
expected at all. The course moves
painstakingly through all the basic
concepts of digital electronics in a
simple and concise fashion: questions
and answers on every page make sure
that the points are understood.
Everyone can learn from it - students, engineers
housewives, scientists. Its four A4 volumes consist of:
I
8s
r
hobbyists,
Book 1 Binary, octal and decimal number systems; conversion between number systems
conversion of fractions; octal decimal conversion tables
Book 2 AND, OR gates; inverters, NOR and NAND gates; truth tables introduction to
Boolean algebra
Book 3 Positive ECL, De Morgans Laws; designing logic circuits using NOR gates, dual input
gates
Book 4 Introduction to pulse driven circuits, R S and J K flip flops, binary counters shift
registers, half adders
DESIGN OF DIGITAL SYSTEMS £14.00
This course takes the reader to real
proficiency. Written in a similar
question and answer style to Digital
Computer Logic and Electronics, this
course moves at a much faster pace
and goes into the subject in greater
depth. Ideally suited for scientists or
engineers wanting to know more
about digital electronics, its six A4
volumes lead step by step through
number systems and Boolean algebra
to memories, counters and arithmetic
circuits and finally to an
understanding of calculator and
computer design.
Book 1 Octal, hexadecimal and binary number
systems; representation of negative numbers, complementary systems; binary multiplication
and division
Book 2 OR and AND functions; logic gates; NOT, exclusive-OR, NAND, NOR and exclusive
NOR functions; multiple input gates; truth tables; De Morgans Laws, canonical forms, logic
conventions; karnaugh mapping; three state and wired logic
Book 3 Half adders and full adders, subtractors; serial and parallel adders, processors and
arithmetic logic units <ALUs); multiplication and division systems.
Book 4 Flip flops; shift registers; asynchronous and synchronous counters, ring, Johnson
and exclusive OR feedback counters; random access memories IRAMs) and read only
memories (ROMs)
Book 5 Structure of calculators keyboard encoding, decoding display data register
systems; control unit, program ROM, address decoding; instruction sets; instruction
decoding; control programme structure
Book 6 Central processing unit (CPU) memory organization; character representation,
program storage, address modes, input/output systems, program interrupts, interrupt
priorities; programming, assemblers, computers executive programs, operating systems and
time sharing.
systems; conversion between number
Flow Charts and Algorithms
are the essential logical procedures used in all computer programming
and mastering them is the key to success here as well as being a
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from Almarc
with 5 megabyte Winchester,630k floppy disc
The new Vector 5005 is a multiple-user,
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PCW53
NEWSPRINT
Guy Kewney , editor of Datalink, presents the latest micro news.
BBC micro
-part 94
The new BBC machine,
despite all the criticism there
has been, is going to have to
work very hard to fail, as
anyone will have to admit
who saw the first models,
as promised, at the PCW
Show.
Mind you, you had to be
pretty clever to actually see
it. If it is possible to imagine
a worse crush of spectators
than surrounded the
Wembley Online show’s
Micromouse heats, all you
have to imagine is the Acorn/
BBC stand at the PCW Show
with more space to fit the
crush into.
Into the crowd I marched,
elbows hard at work, until I
got into sight of John Coll,
who was answering all ques¬
tions with positive and
confident ease.
John Coll is Acorn’s
education expert. He was
one of the first teachers
in the country to really push
the micro as an essential
item for schools and one of
the few experts who is also
well-informed. Criticism from
Coll goes deep and his accu¬
sations that virtually every¬
thing I’d written about the
BBC micro were misguided,
hurt. Nonetheless, the only
thing he really picked me up
on was the report that the
new machine would include,
in its Basic interpreter, the
unusual Basic that is
contained in the Atom. This,
said Coll, is absolutely not
true.
Exactly why it isn’t true,
I’m still not sure. All its more
admirable features are there,
(such as the ability to run
machine code routines just
by entering assembler
language into the program)
in improved and standardised
syntax versions; strings, for
instance, are given the way
the rest of the world does
it, as A$ rather than $A but
upgrades and improvements
of Atom Basic aren’t the
same as dropping it. I suppose
‘retaining’ Atom Basic sounds
a bit too much like retaining
its more difficult features,
which, it seems, have all been
tackled.
Anyway, the biggest flea
John Coll could have put in
my ear still wouldn’t have
stopped me falling in love
with the machine, for two
reasons.
First, it looks nice; neat
and flat with a good
keyboard and a square table
on which to place a television
of monitor, and lots of
special keys on the keyboard
so that you can have special
functions built into your
program. Its output looked
nice, too. Ominous rumblings
from the trade that the ultra-
high resolution graphics
would just make a television
freak out turned out to be
plain rubbish.
The more important
reason for liking the machine,
the one that should impress
the business user, is that it is
designed for a long future.
Inside, it has a design
feature called The Tube. This,
as we mentioned when first
writing about the Proton
design from Acorn (the
Proton has become the BBC
micro) lets you connect the
computer to a second
usually more powerful
machine, for which it handles
all human activities. By May
next year, the BBC micro
will have a second, add-on
processor, a Zilog Z80,
running CP/M as its operating
system. Some time after that
(say when Motorola gets the
memory management
problems straightened out),
a system using the Motorola
68000 will be produced,
again ready to use the Proton
as its front end.
The front end will handle
all the housekeeping chores.
It will watch the users at
their key-pressing, it will
watch the disks spin round,
and the printer zip along,
and it will listen to the pnone
and the television for piped
or broadcast software. When
it has a message worth passing
on to the main processor, it
will do this, as far as possible
without interrupting it,
through The Tube, some four
kbytes of internal software.
The only serious objection
to the BBC machine the fact
that it uses the obsolete and
dead-end 6502 processor, is
thus destroyed. As a pre¬
processor and operating
machine, the 6502 is more
than adequate for any task
it is ever likely to meet in
the next decade. And as a
teaching machine for the next
two years or so, the BBC
micro is going to be enhanced,
not handicapped, by the
amount of educational
software being generated
for the Acorn Atom, much
of which will transfer quite
easily.
Looking at price if a full,
expandable-with-colour
BBC machine costs £335 and
the disk controller £70 and
disks £500, the extra Z80
and CP/M board only needs
to cost £300 to provide a
CP/M system (without video)
of roughly the same cost as
the Osborne 1 and with a
much more ‘luxurious’
specification as far as disk
capacity and display quality
are concerned.
The only thing that could
hurt the machine is the way it
is sold. It is true that nobody
could afford to boost the
BBC micro the way the BBC
will do and that using a
specialist mail-order outfit
should make sure that any¬
body who wants one can
get one. But the computer
trade can see no obvious way
to make money out of it,
because they can’t handle it.
This puzzles me a bit.
Apparently it arises from the
Beeb’s desire to appear whiter
than white and not to take
too large a step into the
private industry sector. But
the fact is that there is no
trade discount on the BBC
machine. It costs £235
for the basic model, £325
for the advanced version
and that is that.
Obviously there is nothing
to stop enterprising shops
from buying them in and
flogging them at (say) £300
and £400, but for the fact
that few people will want
to buy them this way unless
they can jump the queue.
And if the retail trade can’t
stock the machine, will it
sell software to run on it?
Won’t it rather denigrate
it and push the virtues of the
VICs and Ataris, where
profits can be made on both
hard and software?
Murphy
strikes again
Some software has no
defence against Murphy’s law
and can fail at any time. The
time is chosen in
accordance with Murphy’s
law that is to say, when
loading it from tape or disk,
which is why people like to
have a spare disk or tape of
their favourite programs.
That, naturally enough, is
why people like Apple
Orchard sell programs de¬
signed to let users copy pro¬
grams that normally cannot
be copied because they
deliberately deceive the
operating system into mis-
copying them.
Apple Orchard’s Copy II
Plus runs on the 48k Apple
II Plus, costs £40 under
DOS 3.3, and can be used to
copy itself. ‘Unlike most
other copy devices,’ notes
Orchard, ‘further copies
cannot be made from a
copy.’ That stops people
giving a friend a copy and
then watching that friend
make a copy for another
friend. It doesn’t stop one
person making a lot of
copies and giving them away,
of course. But on a large
scale that would be a tedious
lot oi work unless you were
charging for the service. And
not too many people would
be grateful for a program
which can’t be copied (see
Murphy’s Law above) so the
only likely prospect for that
crime would be the sort of
unscrupulous dealer who
sells you an Apple at the
same price as anyone else,
with a ‘free’ set of software
which he’s ripped off. You
buy from such a pirate at
your own risk unless he
guarantees to support the
programs under normal
guarantee terms — but he
won’t.
If your conscience bothers
you about using a copying
program because you have
read in tne Wall Street
Journal that piracy costs the
publishers £6 million a year
ignore such figures as entirely
spurious. Most people copy
programs, most do it for
54 PCW
NEWSPRINT
reasons other than back-up,
and almost none of these
copy programs which they
would otherwise have paid
for. And an equally un¬
measurable number go on
to buy a program which they
wouldn’t have considered
buying without the judgment
learned from the first. Apple
Orchard is on (0908) 53595.
Compiler
collection
Without giving too much
away, Professor Peter Brown
of the University of Kent
wants it known that he is
working on the answer to the
problem of compilers.
The problem with com¬
pilers, he says, is that ‘typi¬
cally, they are too big to fit
onto many computers, they
operate slowly, they require
frequent and lengthy main¬
tenance to bring them up to
date with new developments
in computer programming
and that the compilers on
any two computers are often
different from one another.’
Professor Brown and his
colleague Peter Welch expect
to solve many of these pro¬
blems by putting specialist
compiling machines onto
their local computer network,
so that the central compiling
machine does all the compiling
work, for all languages used
around the net and for all
machines used on the net.
Brown and Welch aren’t
saying too much about how
they will do this but they are
keen to hear from compiler-
users, in the hope that these
unfortunate people will say
what’s wrong with the things,
and then Brown and Welch
can think up solutions.
Let us hope that compiler
non-users also get in touch.
The reasons why someone
avoids a compiler are
probably at least as revealing
as the reasons for using them;
perhaps more revealing, since
they will ask for things that
compiler users have resigned
themselves to doing without.
For instance, most micro
users would want to sit down
at the keyboard and start
developing a program
creatively there and then.
Most professional program¬
mers, accustomed to com¬
pilers, have developed the
discipline of sitting down at a
desk and designing the
program first, on-a piece of
paper. They learned their
trade, most of them, when
there just weren’t enough
computers around to use the
beasts to help the program¬
mers but that isn’t true today.
Brown and Welch are on
Canterbury (0227) 66822
ext 636 or 629.
Sauron
strikes
Originally, Sauron was a
semi-deity of the Wotan type:
one-eyed, treacherous,
consorter of crows and
assisted by flying harpies who
haunted battlefields while he
tried to rule the world with
the assistance of a Balrog
called Loki.
This Sauron is obviously
designed for the purposes of
bucket print shops, since it
can go a fair way towards
being a typesetting tool —
and at £8000 plus including
VAT, just being a black
word-processor wouldn’t be
enough.
The Sauron’s desire to
interfere with the life of its
slaves seems to be limited
to a ‘program generator’
which dealers will use, in
order to convince customers
that they are getting bespoke
software ‘as would be
expected of a system of this
calibre,’ says its builder,
CPS Data Systems, right¬
eously.
It is based on the British-
built Cifer 2683 intelligent
terminal, with detachable
keyboard with colour-coded
function keys and the system
has 2.4 megabytes on two
floppies (quite a lot) and the
Sanders Media 12/7 printer,
which can change type size
and style letter by letter.
‘With an ordinary 60 charac¬
ters per second daisywheel
printer, the cost is reduced
by £1000,’ notes CPS. Oh,
and it has a spelling
correction program. Or, as
some prefer to call it, a
misprint detector.
Its main claims to fame,
apart from all that, are error-
correcting communications
from one Sauron to another
(presumably through Palantir
modules) down a phone line
and its masses of black steel.
Details on 021-707 3866.
Hard work
There is, at last, some
evidence that hard disks are
pretty reliable devices.
There is also evidence that
they’re pretty hard to fix.
Take a product — any
product — and you’ll find
that the man who makes it
boasts of how reliable it is
and the man who makes a
business repairing it ruins
the show by boasting how
fast he can fix the hundred
and one faults it suffers from
and this includes hard
winchester disks.
The big thing about
winchesters is the fact that
they can store an enormous
amount of data and save or
regurgitate it much faster
than floppies can. And the
big thing about mini¬
winchesters is that they are
built to fit into the same box
that an eight-inch floppy fits
in. And the big thing about
micro-winchesters is that
they fit into the volume of
a minifloppy, so manufactu¬
rers just whip out the old
floppy and bang in the new
winchester.
Almost a year ago, I heard
stories suggesting that not all
winchester disks were per¬
fectly reliable. Mostly, the
stories were about one
particular drive, but since
that was the most common
drive, it wasn’t surprising
that most reports (of any
kind) were about it.
Now, after a year’s
nervous silence, the suppliers
have been hopelessly let
down by a reasoned, calm
and detailed account of how
hard it was to fix the things.
Kode Services in Wiltshire
has got itself the contract to
fix them all over Britain and
Europe.
John May, managing
director, doesn’t paint a bad
icture of reliability; in fact
e expects around three per¬
cent of hard disks installed to
fail in any one year and
suggests that the figure could
(possibly) be as low as one
percent.
May’s company has, at
last, been given a contract
by three of the leading
makers of hard disks — IMI,
Kennedy and Seagate Tech¬
nology — to maintain their
products in Europe. At first,
he recalls, the US makers
weren’t too keen. ‘Two years
ago,’ he told journalists at a
recent announcement, ‘we
approached a selection of US
based winchester disk makers
and suggested that we should
become their repair agents
in Europe. Initially the
interest we aroused was
lukewarm.’ At the time, this
was reasonable, says May,
because they had spare
production capacity. They
could merely swap a faulty
disk for a good one and save
up all the faulty ones until
the time came when they had
enough to send them down
the factory production line
and fix them on a mass
production basis. But today,
this spare capacity doesn’t
exist and the number of
disks installed is so large
that even if it did, it wouldn’t
be enough. The result was
that users were having to wait
enormous times for repairs.
‘European users,’ he notes,
‘have the additional expense
and delay of shipping drives
to the States.’
But setting up a repair
centre isn’t just a question of
marking off a laboratory area.
You need a clean room, a
frightfully expensive thing to
build and normally only
attempted for making micro¬
chips. Dust is the cause.
‘As you probably
appreciate,’ May said, ‘in
winchester disks, the gap
In 10 years' time, any electronic device coming onto the
market will automatically keep track of what goes wrong
with itself. When the engineer phones it up (it will, naturally
be connectable to the phone system) it will report not only
the permanent breakdowns ('photo-cell not generating
current, transistors burned out on chip 27, voltage too low
from stage five') but intermittent ones as well (‘on Tuesday,
at 6.45, when the phone rang, 1 7 bits of a message to the
video were corrupted by interference picked up from channel
six of the analogue server ’ or ‘disk number four mis-read
four tracks over the past three weeks, on a non-random
basis ').
iJntit self-diagnosis is a lot cheaper and cleverer than
today, however, devices such as the Oasis, which can put any
electronic computer peripheral through all its paces, are
going to be essential aids to the engineer.
The Oasis, from Hal computers of Weybridge, has soft¬
ware which will let it test several different computer peri¬
pherals software called a Peripheral ALgorithm Module, or
PALM — and the engineer just plugs in the right module,
connects your apparently faulty peripheral, and can soon
find out what it won't do. It works in the US, too, on US
power supplies of 115 volts at 60 Hz. Details on Reading
(0734) 586802. 6
PCVV 55
CHOOSING A COMPUTER
MADE SIMPLE
Made simple... Made simple...
Made simple...
Made simple...
Made simple...
Not so simple
Choosing a computer is ... Choosing a computer is more than just
choosing a computer. That is, it’s a lot more than just hardware. Mind you.
PET stacks up very well when it comes to the computer itself. Because at
Commodore we’ve been involved with microcomputers for over
20 years - in fact, many other manufacturers pay us the compliment
of using our microchip for their own computers.
So, when you choose PET you know you have a
microcomputer that everyone in the business admires
and respects.
... choosing software ... Our software
programs live up to the quality of our computer. The
range, from both Commodore and specialist
suppliers, covers everything from word processing,
stock control and payroll to accounting and information _
processing. As well as specialist applications for
education and the sciences.
For light relief, we’ve a pretty impressive range of games and other brain¬
teasing packages.
... choosing value ... Our computers start at under £200 and go
through to £3000 - which will buy you a complete business system. The
extent of our range makes sure that you’ll easily be able to choose the right
computer for your individual needs.
... choosing a dealer ... As you can see, you
do get nationwide dealer back-up with Commodore.
What’s more, many of our dealers have specific
expertise - which means they can advise on anything
from business systems to specialist technical
applications. So, if your particular problem is of a
highly specialised nature, it may be best to
contact our Information Department direct.
They will then recommend the dealers who
understand - and who speak your kind of language.
... choosing your computer ... It all adds up.
By choosing a PET you’re getting the kind of
systems and service that you’d expect from Britain’s
biggest selling microcomputer.
Send to: Commodore Information Services. P.O Box 109. Baker Street. High Wycombe
- Tel: Slough 79292.
| I’d like to know how a Commodore PET will make choosing a computer simple for me.
X
Name.
Company
Address
Tel:.
24PC2J
COMMODORE PET
Quite simply, Britain’s biggest
selling microcomputer
56 PCW
LONDON AREA
Adda Computers Ltd
WI 3,01-579 5845
Byteshop Computerland
NW 1,01 -387 0505
Capital Computer Systems Ltd
Wl.01-636 3863 &6375551
Centralex - London Ltd
SE13,01-3184213-7
Chromasonic Electronics
N19.01-263 9493/9495
Healey Management Services Ltd
El.01-247 2858/3149
Home and Business Computers
El 2.01-472 5107
Logic Box Ltd
SW 1.01-222 1122/5492
Merchant Systems Limited
EC4.01-583 6774
Metyclean Ltd
EC4.01-236 2000
Micro Computation
N14.01 -882 5104
Micro Computer Centre
SW 14.01-878 7044-7
Sumlock Bondam Ltd
EC 1.01-2500505
The Computer Shop (City) Ltd
ECI.01-628 3531
HOME COUNTIES
Millhouse Designs Ltd
ALTON. 84517
The Computer Shop (Banbury) Ltd
BANBURY. 3477
H.S.V. Ltd
BASINGSTOKE. 62444
M.M.S. Limited
BEDFORD. 40601/2
Bracknell Computers
BRACKNELL 52929
D.D.M. Direct Data Marketing Ltd
BRENTWOOD. 229379 & 230480
Amplicon Micro Systems Limited
BRIGHTON. 562163 & 608331
T & V Johnson (Microcomputers Etc) Ltd
CAMBERLEY. 20446
Wego Computers Ltd
CATERHAM. 49235
The Computer Shop (Caversham) Ltd
CAVERSHAM. 481555
Dataview Ltd
COLCHESTER. 865835
DaVinci Computers Ltd
EDGWARE. 01 -952 0526
Micro-Facilities Ltd
HAMPTON HILL 01 -979 4546
Cream Computer Shop
HARROW. 01-863 0833
L & J Computers
HARROW. 01-204 7525
South East Computers Ltd
HASTINGS. 426844
Bromwall Data Services Ltd
HATFIELD. 60980/6711 I
Alpha Business Systems
HERTFORD. 57425
Com monsense Business Systems Ltd
HIGH WYCOMBE. 401 16
Kingsley Computers Ltd
HIGH WYCOMBE. 449749
Computer Sales & Software Centre Ltd
ILFORD. 01-554 3344
H.B. Computers Ltd
KETTERING. 520910
H.B. Computers (Luton) Ltd
LUTON. 426887/416892
South East Computers Ltd
MAIDSTONE. 681263
Photo Acoustics Ltd
NEWPORT PAGNELL. 610625
WATFORD. 32006 & 40698
Sumlock Bondam (East Anglia) Ltd
NORWICH. 26259 & 614302
The Computer Shop (Oxford) Ltd
OXFORD. 722872
T & V Johnson (Microcomputers Etc) Ltd
OXFORD. 721461
Arden Data Processing
PETERBOROUGH. 49577 & 67831
H.S.V. Ltd
SOUTHAMPTON. 331422
Sumlock Tabdown Ltd
SOUTHAMPTON. 26647
D.D.M. Direct Data Marketing Ltd
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA. 65787 & 64589
Scan Computers Ltd
STORRINGTON. (09066) 5432
The Computer Room
TONBRIDGE. 355962
Orchard Computer Services
WALLINGFORD. 35529
Microchips
WINCHESTER. 68085
PPM. Ltd
WOKING. (04867)8011 I
Petalect Limited
WOKING. (04862) 69032 & 21776
MIDLANDS
Byteshop Computerland
BIRMINGHAM. 021 -622 7149
C.P.S. (Data Systems) Limited
BIRMINGHAM. 021 -707 3866
Camden Electronics Limited
BIRMINGHAM. 021 -773 8240
Joseph Ware Associates Ltd
BIRMINGHAM. 021 -643 8033
Marchant Business Systems Ltd
BIRMINGHAM. 021 -706 8232
Micro Associates
BIRMINGHAM. 021 -328 4574
Peach Data Services
BURTON-ON-TRENT, 44968
Catlands Information Systems
CHESTER. 46327
PEG Associates (Computer Systems) Ltd
COVENTRY. 20246
Davidson-Richards Ltd
DERBY. 366803
Taylor Wilson Systems Ltd
DORRIDGE. (056 45) 6192
Caddis Computer Systems Ltd
HINCKLEY. 61 3544
Arden Data Processing
LEICESTER. 22255
Roger Clark Business Systems Ltd
LEICESTER. 20455
A.J.R. Ltd
NOTTINGHAM. 206647
Betos (Systems) Ltd
NOTTINGHAM. 48108
Byteshop Computerland
NOTTINGHAM. 40576
PEG Associates (Computer Systems) Ltd
RUGBY. 65756
Synchro Computing Ltd
STOKE-ON-TRENT. 825391
Walters Computer Systems Ltd
STOURBRIDGE. 70811
The Computer Shop (Swindon) Ltd
SWINDON. 694061
McDowell, Knaggs & Associates Limited
WORCESTER, 28466
YORKS AND HUMBERSIDE
Ackroyd Typewriter & Adding Machine Co. Ltd
BRADFORD. 31835 8.32243
Allen Computers
GRIMSBY. 40568
Microprocessor Services
HULL. 23146
Microware Computers Ltd
HULL, 562107
Holdene Ltd
LEEDS. 459459
Yorkshire Electronics Services Ltd
MORLEY. 522181
Computer Centre (Sheffield) Ltd
SHEFFIELD. 53519/588731
Holbrook Business Systems Ltd
SHEFFIELD. 484466
Estate Computer Systems
SLEAFORD, 305637
Mitrefmch Ltd
YORK. 52995
NORTH EAST
Currie 8. Maughan
GATESHEAD. 774540
Dyson Instruments
HETTON. 260452
Key Computer Services Ltd
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE. 815157
Intex Datalog Ltd
STOCKTON-ON-TEES. (0642)781 193
MANCHESTER AREA
Byteshop Computerland
MANCHESTER. 061 -236 4737
Computastore Limited
MANCHESTER. 061 -832 4761
Cytek (UK) Limited
MANCHESTER. 061 -872 4682
Executive Reprographic Ltd
MANCHESTER. 061-228 1637
D. Kipping Ltd
MANCHESTER. 061-834 6367
Professional Computer Services Ltd
OLDHAM. 061 -624 4065
Catlands Information Systems Ltd
STOCKPORT. 061 -477 6699
Catlands Information Systems Ltd
WILMSLOW. 527166
LIVERPOOL
Stack Computer Services Ltd
BOOTLE. 051-933 5511
Aughton Microsystems
KIRKBY.051-548 7788
Rockcliff Micro Computers
LIVERPOOL. 051-521 5830
The Computer Shop (Southport) Ltd
SOUTHPORT. 77783
NORTH WEST
B 8. B (Computers) Limited
BOLTON. 26644
Tharstern Limited
BURNLEY. 38481
Preston Computer Centre
PRESTON, 57684
WEST COUNTRY
Radan Computational Ltd
BATH. 318483
Calculator Services 8. Sales (Bristol) Ltd
BRISTOL. 779452/3
Sumlock Tabdown Ltd
BRISTOL 276685
T 8. V Johnson (Microcomputers Etc) Ltd
BRISTOL. 422061
A.C. Systems
EXETER. 71718
South Coast Business Machines Ltd
FERNDOWN. 893040
Milequip Ltd
GLOUCESTER. 411010
Devon Computers
PAIGNTON. 526303
A.C. Systems
PLYMOUTH. 260861
JAD Integrated Services (Plymouth) Ltd
PLYMOUTH. 662616 & 29038
J.M. Computer Services Ltd
TRURO. 71626
WALES
Sumlock Tabdown Ltd
CARDIFF. 41 361
Sigma Systems Ltd
CARDIFF. 34869 & 21515
Reeves Computers Limited
CARMARTHEN, 32441/2
Computer Supplies (Swansea)
SWANSEA. 290047
SCOTLAND
MacMicro Ltd
BEAULY. 046-371 2774
Holdene Microsystems Ltd
EDINBURGH. 031-668 2727
Byteshop Computerland
GLASGOW. 041-221 7409
Gate Microsystems Limited
GLASGOW. 041-221 9372-4
Robox Ltd
GLASGOW. 041-221 8413/4
Ayrshire Office Computers
KILMARNOCK, 42972
NORTHERN IRELAND
Northern Ireland Computer Centre Limited
HOLYWOOD. (02317)6548
NEWSPRINT
between the read-write head
and the surface of the
magnetic disk itself is minute.’
Currently, the gap is around
18 to 20 micro-inches and a
typical particle of cigarette
smoke is many times wider.
Smoke in a winchester would
plough along the highly-
polished magnetic surface,
destroying data. So win¬
chesters are air-sealed, dust-
free environments and
opening them up for repairs
can only be done in a
similarly dust-free room. Not
easy, when you consider that
the human body gives off
five million dust particles per
minute just walking along,
and when you consider that
the next generation of
winchesters will have the
heads only two-thirds of the
distance away , to record
more bits per inch.
Kode expects to have
plenty of customers, however.
‘With a few exceptions,
turnaround times for repair,
once the disks have reached
an American plant, are now
well in excess of 10 weeks,’
he announced. By contrast,
Kode guarantees a fortnight
now and a week as soon as
this can be managed.
The end result of all this
is to convince me, at last, to
take winchesters seriously.
With reliable products
available, and reasonable
service, many of the horror
stories currently circulating
will vanish and sales
resistance will become a thing
of the past. And if sales
boom, prices will come
down, and sales will boom
even more.
‘I anticipate that by the
end of 1982, Kode will be
supporting a base of more
than 100,000 disk drives in
Europe. This figure refers
only to those made by the
three companies I have
mentioned,’ May added. He
is in Caine, Wilts, on 0249
813771.
Prestel
cutback
The decision to reduce
drastically the number of
British Telecom computers
running Prestel (because
nobody was using them)
proves just how much power
the Press doesn’t have.
Despite endless stories
about viewdata, Prestel and
the Information Providers,
people have failed to buy
their automatic money-takers
and those who bought them
don’t use them enough.
Optimists still maintain that
the move is premature and
that one day it will have to be
reversed.
Similarly, Michael Marshall
MP went on record shortly
before he vanished from his
post as Parliamentary Under
Secretary of State (junior
minister to you) for Industry,
saying that the vaguely
similar teletext invention
(the BBC and ITA sending
pages of text through de¬
coders inside normal TVs)
would have a remarkable
future success. Marshall
predicted a million teletext
sets by the end of next year,
then he vanished from the
Department of Industry.
Even counting the un¬
doubtedly large numbers of
people using the BBC micro
to get programs off the air
through Ceefax, this sounds
pretty optimistic. If you’re
not loading Basic, what good
is Ceefax, anyway?
Short words
In computers as in speech,
it is possible to reduce the
amount of unproductive
storage and communication
time by a judicious reduction
in the packaging density of
the information medium. Or,
it is quicker to explain if
you use short words.
Using this method, Sage de
Gale (a consultancy) reckons
it can double the capacity of
your floppy disk — by using
shorter words. It notes that
most information on a disk
uses many more bits than is
really needed. For instance,
400 spaces may be vital to a
program but if they come
together, all you need is a
code for ‘spaces’ and another
for ‘400’ — say three bytes.
De Gale reckons that it has
refined this sort of technique
to the point where its Archive
software can pack data into
half the normal space. Details
from Patrick de Gale, on
086 733 529.
The other
Gemini
Looking at the nice machines
around today which weren’t
around a year ago, it is worth
recalling the widespread
predictions by industry
pundits that this wouldn’t be
much of a year for new ma¬
chines. Examples to prove the
predictions wrong include the
Chris Shelton Sig-Net, the
Gemini, the Osborne, the
BBC micro, and the IBM
offering.
The Gemini, most frus-
tratingly, is the best-looking
bargain from the UK, which
isn’t all surprising since its
father is John Marshall who
originally gave us the ultra¬
cheap Nascom. Frustratinglv,
because Marshall is selling all
the machines he and his
partner (printed circuit king
Manas Heghoyan) can make,
into Europe. The Gemini 80
is a strange machine. It is
more a consolidation of past
machines than a really new
one and it owes its origins to
the long gap between the
collapse of Nascom and its
eventual revival at Lucas
Logic. History explains the
sequence of events: the
Nascom actually has a
standard bus on which, it was
intended by its designer,
people could fasten odd bits
PCW 57
NEWSPRINT
and pieces such as speech
synthesiser circuits, remote
control boards, extra memory,
disk controllers, and so on.
It’s a fairly old trick in the
computer business and it
works pretty well: it means
that people can have a big
computer but can start off
with a cheap one.
All the companies that
moved into the Nascom
market did so by designing
a special add-on for the
Nascom bus, or Nasbus.
When Nascom went bust,
their annoyance (that there
would be no more Nascom
customers to sell to) was very
much tempered by relief
(that Nascom would not be
competing in their specialist
areas). And very soon, they
got together, to sell products
in co-operation, and to plot
to produce a new computer
that would look enough like a
Nascom that it could use
their special add-ons, but
little enough like that they
wouldn’t face legal reprisals
from Nascom itself.
The Gemini is part of the
result: its Gemini 80 bus is
very similar to the Nasbus.
However there are a lot of
boards for the Nasbus that
won’t easily attach to the
Gemini (too big wrong
shape) and for them, Gemini
and the other add-on
merchants have devised
a sort of British answer to
the SI00 bus. It’s called the
Multiboard, and two boards
in the range are shown
elsewhere on this page; they
can be fitted into a standard
Vero case, or a special Kenil¬
worth case.
Dealers who make compa¬
tible add-ons (they call
themselves the Microvalue
Group) include: Business
& Leisure of Kenilworth;
Electrovalue of Egham and
Manchester; Target Electro¬
nics in Bristol; Henry’s Radio,
London; Bits & PCs,
Wetherby;and of course,
John Marshall’s own compo¬
nents shop, Interface of
Amersham.
Putting a system together
this way is not the cheapest
possible method of starting,
though it can be very useful
for building a system exactly
the way you want it. None¬
theless, paying some £850
(inc VAT) for CPU, video
board, 64k RAM, disk
controller, keyboard, power
supply and program memory
is far from top whack.
Details: (02403) 22307.
HO ‘No’ to
data
protection
The Home Office has upset
people who reckon that
computers can be a threat
to privacy by insisting that
it can look after all our
interests.
Considering that the
Home Office’s computers and
those of the police who are
nominally responsible to it,
are often regarded as one of
the greatest such threats, this
attitude can only be regarded
as suspicious. So, at least,
said a lot of people at the
British Medical Association
conference on the subject of
data protection.
The BMA is concerned
that people will be afraid to
tell doctors things, unless
there is some guarantee that
the information can’t be
simply, automatically and
rapidly transferred into
publicly accessible data
banks. They want a data
protection authority to deal
with the problem.
Not possible, the Home
Office minister, Timothy
Raison told the BMA. A data
protection authority would
create new crimes, not
covered by the courts but by
the authority, an unaccep¬
table extension of the law.
To me this sounds like
ignoring the new crimes
that actually exist, created
by the mass processing power
of multiple computers but
I’m sure the Home Office
knows best, the way it did
on Citizens Band Radio....
Rair upgrade
Whatever Rair says, it isn’t
the first microcomputer
company to offer its users
the option of ‘state of the art’
high speed 64 kbit dynamic
RAM chips for memory. But
at least Rair is one of the first
and it is offering a 256
kbyte board (that’s got at
least 32 of the little things
inside) for its Black Box
micro at a cost of £1250.
NS Advantage
It is entirely the wrong time
for North Star to launch a
nice new micro costing less
than $4000 when David
Broad in Britain has just pro¬
duced new versions of his
Communicator. On its own,
there is nothing to say that
Comart’s boss has easy
opposition from America in
the new Horizon. It’s just
that his own look-alike
doesn’t have to fight its way
through a falling pound,
whereas the Horizon would
have cost £2000 in April and
will cost at least £3000 now,
before the import cost is
added.
The new Horizon is the
Advantage; unlike older
Horizon machines, it has a
built-in screen and very good-
looking graphics. And, of
course, another new feature:
a keyboard. Two disks are
built in, as before and both
old and new versions of the
machine can be linked (one
day) into multi-user, local
networks.
The rubbing sound you
will hear if you ring Broad up
to ask about the Advantage
will be his hands, gleefully
being wrung over the rise
of the dollar and how well
his Communicator will do
as a result. Don’t let him
gloat: details from North
Star in California on (415)
357 8500.
ACT starts
The biggest supplier of busi¬
ness software for micro users
is ACT. This is the opinion
of ACT, at any rate, which
says that games are out and
sales are three times what
they were.
According to a recent
announcement, some £4.75
million worth of off-the-shelf
personal computer programs
will come off the shelves
during 1981. There are other
fascinating statistics. ACT
has found, for instance that,
‘there are now 450 computer
stores offering programs of a
business nature, plus a
smaller number who offer
games programs.’ There is
also a growing number of
software consultants, says
ACT, ‘consultants who under¬
take “tailoring” in addition
to various micro-software
houses and publishers selling
by mail order.’
ACT says it expects ‘a
dramatic increase in the
number of outlets handling
the less sophisticated pro¬
grams this winter, with the
arrival both of a new gene¬
ration of low-cost personal
computers and of cartridge
programs, — referring to
Atari, Texas, VIC and so on.
But from ACT’s point of
view, the more interesting
development will not be the
toys and the move of
multiples such as WH Smith
into selling cartridges for the
toys; it will be the arrival of
the rest of the ‘real’ computer
industry.
The ACT study pointed to
the ‘steady improvement’
in the quality of business
software available, in the
judgement of dealers at least.
And it predicted the
increasing involvement of
the more experienced dealers
in the bigger ‘minicomputers’,
dealers who call themselves
original equipment manu¬
facturers, or OEMs because
they disguise other people’s
original equipment with
software and badges of their
own.
‘Many of these companies
have been working with main¬
frame and minicomputers,’
says the ACT report. ‘They
cannot afford not to be in the
micro market place and our
study suggests that their
involvement is causing an
all round improvement in
professionalism and support
for the customer.
And after all that ACT
says you can get its
catalogue from its offices
at Shenstone House Dudley
Road, Halesowen, West
Midlands, or phone 021-
501 2284.
Intel’s
analogue
The most unusual computer
ever to appear for under
£1000 must be the new ana¬
logue computer kit from
Intel. It is built round the
analogue signal processor
Intel released a year or more
ago and which caused wild
excitement in high places
where people know what an
analogue signal processor is.
Normally, analogue signal
processors are a trial-and-
error sort of magic, where
you work out component
values, twiddle the adjustable
bits and watch the output to
see if it does what you want.
The Intel device changes its
internal (on chip) values
58 PCW
wmcs. plotter
MQ&t-l 100 - LVQ- TAi GRAPHICS PlOTTtfi
>\c A*fA vsm. <:a
The new Strobe Model 100 drum-type plotter gives you real vector plotting,
interfacing to your computer hardware and system software, from only £690 *
* High resolution — 0.1mm at 7.6cm/sec. * A4 paper capacity. * Will plot in most
colours, uses off-the-shelf felt tip pens. * Precise operator control. * Interactive input of
coordinates.
The Strobe Model 100 can be interfaced to any computer through two
parallel 8-bit output ports and one 8-bit input port. Optional interfaces for
TRS-80', Apple II', PET', and S-100 bus computers are currently
available.
Driver Routines Source listings of the assembly language motor drivers and vector plot l
— i Qr use on 8080, Z80, and 6502 microprocessors are supplied J
I 100. Flow charts of these routines simplify modifications of A
custom machine level software. M
* Unit price for plotter ex-delivery and ex-VAT K
* TRS-80, APPLE II, and PET are trademarks of Tandy
^ Corp., Apple Computer Co., and Commodore Business
Machines Inc., respectively.
59
LOOKING FOR 5 1 il
EP4000 EPROM Programmer/Emulator — Not just a
programmer.
Programs a wide range of EPROMs without personality cards. Video
output for editing and LED display for stand alone operation. Standard
interfaces include RS232C, 20mA. TTL. cassette, printer and DM A. In
EMULA TION MODE EP4000 replaces your in-circuit PROMs for program
development and makes changes, entries, edits simple. Accessories
include Bipolar programming modules, multi EPROM simulator adaptors,
buffer pods, ERASERS. Monitors, 2764/2564 programming satellite, printer
and production gang programmers.
EP4000 programmer/simulator £545.00 P4000 production programmer
£545.00(9 sockets) Eraser £78.00 Monitor £88.00 Printer £395.00
Microtek MT80
Probably the most reliable small matrix printer. To coincide with the move
into our new factory we are offering these at clearance prices. 9x7 matrix,
upper and lower case — one only ARABIC — . extended print, 40.80,132
column. 125CHARACTERS PER SECOND.
Parallel MT80P £395.00 Serial MT80S £445.00
Cables available for all of the popular micros.
DYSAN DISKETTES. Indisputably the best you can buy.
30,000 diskettes in stock. As well as the standard range of diskettes for
Apple, PET, TRS-80, etc, we also supply pre-formatted for: CPT8000,
Micom/P5002, all IBM, AES/Lanier, Atari, Nexos2200, Wang, Zenith and
P2000. For immediate delivery call our HOTLINE... Weybridge 48346/7
The Revolutionary New 8” Thinline
Tandon 's revolutionary new 8 inch floppy disc drive is only half the
thickness of earlier drives so that you can pack twice the storage into the
same space. In addition a new method of construction allows the drive to
constantly compensate for changes in temperature and humidity so that
real capacities of up to 4. M.bytes are now achievable in the usual 8 inch
floppy disc drive envelope size. The TM800 series drives require only D.C.
power (5v and 24v) so that they run cool and no changing of pulleys and
belts is needed for manufacturers who want to ship products abroad.
Our new low profile packaging, designed and built in the U.K., complete
with power supplies makes incorporation into, or addition to, existing
systems simple.
APPLE II & TRS-80 COMPATIBLE MINI FLOPPIES
This is our popular TM 100 series mini floppy.
Tandon make 40,000 of these a month. Available as bare drives and
packaged in single and dual cabinets with power supplies. Capacities
from 100K.bytes to 1 Mbyte per drive! Compatible with TRS-80, Video
Genie, SUPERBRAIN, Horizon, Zenith, SWTP, Heathkit etc., and supplied
as the standard drive with many of these systems.
TRS-80 compatible
DUAL UNITS
40 track
£399.00
(in cabinet with
80 track
£549.00
power supply)
SINGLE UNITS
40 track
£219.00
80 track
£289.00
APPLE II Compatible
Single disc
£249.00
Dual disc
£488.00
APPLE Controller board DOS 3.3
£POA
Prices exclude VA T and delivery charges.
HAL Computers Limited
57WloodhamLane New Haw
Weybridge Surrey KT15 3ND
Telephone Weybridge 48346/7
SPARE PARTS SERVICE AND TRAINING
We carry a complete stock of emergency spare parts for Tandon disc
drives and we can fix any drive on a short turn-round. All final testing is
carried out on an in-house A TE drive testing system which can run 73
separate diagnostic programs to ensure that your drive leaves us in
absolutely first class condition. A less complex calibration service is also
available. Full product support exists for genuine OEM customers and we
run single day training courses at regular intervals. Call our service
engineering department for further information.
We carry the full range of Dysan alignment diskettes and a staff of
Sales Engineers will be pleased to help you with any queries.
60 PCW
Our new Micro Winchester gives you from 5 to 20 M.bytes of
hard disc storage from as little as £1425.00 fora complete i
ready-to-go, plug-in system with software. I
Floppies and larger more expensive hard discs are no jfl
match for our new drives which pack enough data to run fl
serious business or technical applications software
into a mini-floppy size 5 'A ’’unit. Your data is A
protected in the sealed enclosure making diskette
handling problems a thing of the past. The disc is fast M
— 40 times faster transfer rate than a mini-floppy —
yet fits into the same space and so can be used as a fl
replacement or an enhancement. A
Controllerbility
Our controller comes with a range of adaptors to plug on to
most popular micros and there are more adaptors on the way. It
supports two discs with ease and while others are struggling with
less stable analog data separators and speed-eating error
correction circuits, we use a high performance digital design which
literally locks into the data stream and stays there. Incidentally we
also sell digital data separator cards to OEMs. Real time and multi¬
tasking applications benefit from the controller’s interrupt
capability and macro level command structure and the OEM
version features a simple software interface and CP/M 2.2 BIOS
with extensive development aids. The software comes on either
5 'A ” or 8" diskettes together with Boot PROMs.
Service and Support ^
If you are impressed with the specifications so far, there is
more to come. Our packaged sub-systems are assembled
in-house and they carry a full one year parts and labour
warranty. Our controllers are built completely from TTL
logic — there are no fancy chips — so we can fix them if
they ever break down. Dozens of floppy disc drives go
through our workshops every month and we are well
known within the industry both for our training courses
and our heavy investment in computer based disc test
equipment. If your Winchester ever stops
you on
PCW 61
NEWSPRINT
under software control.
The only trouble is that
before this latest kit you
needed a hefty chunk of
expensive hardware to get
the software in. With this
kit ? you need a hefty chunk
of ingenuity but at least
the thing only costs £655,
The dealer who told me
about this is Rapid Recall,
on (0494) 35634, but I dare
say other Intel distributors
have the SDK 2920 too.
Selling well
When Microsense first offered
the Apple computer which it
distributes in the UK to
schools, it offered a first¬
time discount. And all the
dealers who got their Apples
from Microsense raised a
huge fuss because this meant
that the teachers got their
computers direct, and the
local agent lost out.
Well, it looks as if the
local men didn’t lose out all
that much. Partly as a result
of that promotion, Micro¬
sense can now point
to 1000 Apples in UK
schools, despite the Govern¬
ment’s choice of the BBC
micro and Research
Machines’ 380Z as official
education machines.
And another 1000 says
Microsense, are in
universities.
War mag
Until now, there has been
no magazine devoted to
games software for domestic
microcomputers. Now there
is: it’s called The War
Machine. As the title rather
betrays, it is into combat
games and claims that readers
‘came to microcomputers
from a background in
hexagon wargaming, and
others are fantasy role-
playing gamers.’ Not for
Space Invaders freaks, then.
It costs £1 for the first issue,
and they hope to publish it
every two months. Details
and postal order to MW
Costello, 17 Langbank
Avenue, Rise Park,
Nottingham NG5 5BU.
Serial switch
On the back of many modern
micros is a port labelled
‘RS232’ and KGB Micros has
noticed that several people
have more than one printer,
or video display, or modem
but only one socket to
plug it into. To circum¬
vent this awkward
problem, the company
is offering a Softswitch
which allows people to
plug three devices into
the one socket.
The Softswitch can do
nothing about those irri¬
tating systems designers,
such as Triumph Adler, who
have redesigned the RS232
interface. But assuming that
your video and printer have
sufficiently similar RS232
plugs, you may be able to
adjust your software to con
you into thinking that you
have two or three sockets.
‘Softswitch works by sensing
a user-defined two-character
code, which preceeds data
being transferred,’ explains
KGB. ‘This code switches
the data to the appropriate
output port’ and the actual
switch can be as quick as you
can send the code, it
continues.
At the time of writing, I
don’t know how to change
applications software to
operate the switch, or what
restrictions are likely to
result but a small bet that
changes and restrictions will
occur might attract me.
Details on Slough (0753)
38310,
Faster not
cheaper
‘Going faster’ is a concept
attracting several micro¬
computer makers who have
satisfied themselves that
they can’t win the fight for
‘going cheaper’ with the
BBC micro, Osborne and
Gemini around.
Frankly, with the IBM
machine on the horizon,
‘going faster’ with a Z80-
based system looks like a
short-term grab for glory to
me and it certainly does
make for vastly expensive
machinery, like the MC
Computers’ Quasar Q DP-100,
costing £3380. You get a
lot of disk capacity (two
megabytes) and some slots
to plug in S100 cards, but
otherwise it’s a bog-standard
CP/M system without screen
or keyboard, rather like the
Cromemco.
I’m slightly more im¬
pressed with Paul Joyce’s
new machine at Graham-
Dorian; he’s brought in the
Performance machine from
MicroPro. It was designed
by MicroPro, who designed
the best-selling Wordstar
word processor and it was
designed to run Wordstar at
its best, with high speed
and lots of extra features and
a big disk but it costs the
best part of £7 000. Quasar is
in Northampton on (0604)
858011. Graham Dorian is
in Reading on (0734) 664
345.
Golden
turkey
This time they’ve gone too
far. The Americans, I mean,
with their obsession for trade-
marking every normal word
in the English language.
Remember how Zilog
earned widespread ridicule
when it tried to trademark
the letter ‘Z’? Now some¬
body has trademarked
‘English’ as the name of a
computer language.
That somebody is an
outfit called Microdata
Corporation in California
(where else?) which has
taken to advertising its
business system, the Reality
a silly enough name, if
ever I heard one. I quote
from Microdata’s advert in
the 24 August edition of
Fortune : ‘Microdata’s Reality
computer system speaks your
language: English’, etc, etc.
At the bottom there’s the
line: ‘Reality and English are
registered trademarks of
Microdata Corporation,
Irvine, CA’.
Starting as of now, we’re
going to award an annual
Golden Turkey trophy for
the silliest marketing/ad¬
vertising ideas in the micro¬
computer industry. At the
moment, as usual, Britain is
lagging seriously behind the
Americans in this, and it’s
about time we got our act
together. So, if you spot
anything that could rival the
Reality ad (and that’s far
ahead of anything else in
the Golden Turkey ratings
right now), let us know at
PCW.
Taped tips
‘Oh, you know about
computers do you? I’m
thinking of getting one
of these new micros: tell
me, do you think I could put
all my customers on one, and
should I use an Apple or a
PET?’
People at parties who ask
this question while you’re
trying to pour straight can now
be dealt with more kindly
than with the usual beer-
on-trousers diversionary
gimmick. You can instead
refer them to the National
Computing Centre, which has
released a cassette tape on
‘How to choose your small
business computer’ which
gives checklists, jobs to do
before you get the system,
jobs after, sources of advice,
book lists, and glossary of
jargon terms.
Tape and booklet cost
a mere £10 from The Micro¬
systems Centre, 11 New
Fetter Lane, London
EC4A 1PU or from
Manchester NCC head¬
quarters.
Whaa?
It’s difficult to be sure but
I think the new Uniqard is an
‘ideal prototyping printed
circuit card.’ It is, I think,
designed to allow circuit
designers to put prototype
boards together and know
that some of the important
design criteria that normally
only appear in the production
version, are there from the
start.
If you think I must be
pretty feeble not to be sure,
remember first that my
phone bill can’t be pushed
to infinite lengths, nor can
I spend all week talking to
everyone who puzzles me
with an announcement that
looks worth running.
Listen to this: ‘Intro¬
duction. The Uniqard was
developed as a flexible
prototyping board for in-
Do / have to tell anyone that Uncle Clive has finally launched
his £50 ZX printer? Surely everyone knows? You do? Great!
Bet you didn't know that Sinclair sales are now running at
£20 million per year, though, did you? And I'll tell you
what: bet you can't get a printer yet, either.
The amazing enthusiasm of Sinclair users for their
machines never ceases to amaze me, even though I think I
recall saying that a high-volume sales machine like the ZX8X
series would generate just such self-help enthusiasts. Latest
to come to my attention is G A Bobker of 29 Chadderton
Drive, Unsworth, Bury, Lancs, who produces a sort of
quarterly called ZX-Guaranteed with lots of free software
and circuit ideas, not all of which are fuVy recommended by
the au f hor. Bobker is a dissident ; that is to say , he is rude
about Uncle Clive. If that sort of thing offends you, don 't
write to ask his price. Phone him instead on 061-766 5712.
62 PCW
NEWSPRINT
The Apple II may be less than a year away from death as
the company’s biggest money spinner and there may be
three new machines just waiting for it to flag. But as long as
people build musical instruments like this around it, Apples
will continue to change hands. This is the new alphaSyntauri
synthesiser, with a new operating system that lets musicians
go beyond performing and recording what they played; it
adds such a wide range of sound manipulations and storage
options that Tm not going to try listing them or explaining
them here. Suffice it to say the new system is available on
the old alpha by adding a new disk of software and full
details are available direct from Syntauri Corporation at
3506 Waverley Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306.
house use. Its prerequisites
were low cost and minimal
wiring overhead for the
development of a networking
microsystem in respect of
memory, processor and
global/local bus buffer PCBs.
‘From this objective, the
concept of a flexible board
for production use arose,
leading to considerable
savings in general inventory
and stock control.’
There is more amiable
waffle of this sort totally
opaque to me ; followed by
a row of asterisks and the
statement: ‘THE UNIQARD
IN CONTEXT’, which
includes paragraphs such as:
‘4) Plated Through & Non-
plated Through Holes. A
combination (mainly plated
through) achieve inherent
topology and afford user-
defined circuit extensions
by simple through hole link.’
I can only agree. For
details, contact Wessex Micro¬
computers (0063-22-402)
in Somerset. I’m fairly sure
this is something clever but
for the life of me, I can’t
work out what.
Cunning stunt
Admire, if you will, the use
of the word ‘conversion’ by
ACT for the process of
getting the Micromodeller,
which some say is like
Visicalc but nicer (and much
pricier) to run on the modi¬
fied PET. The difference is
that ACT supplies a Stunt
Box with the software on it.
Details from ACT Micro¬
soft on 021-501 2284.
Zak’s view
Rodnay Zaks, a name all of
you will recognise from the
computer book stalls, reckons
that computer makers are
slowing down the growth of
the micro market.
Zaks released his analysis
of the microworld at the
recent PCW Show. And gave
us several statistics, previou¬
sly published, to show
just how huge the micro
market was going to be. His
opinion is ‘that it could be
many times larger than these
figures show.’ What is slowing
us all up, said Zaks, is the fact
that both customers and
technology are way ahead
of the personal computer
market.
Most of today’s best sellers
are deeply rooted in the past,
he noted. Bright new chips
like the Motorola 68000, the
Z8000 and the Intel 8086
are not to be found in any
common machine. Indeed,
they are hardly to be found
even in any available machine
and certainly in no cheap
machine, despite the fact,
Zaks observed, that the
Intel 8086 is now cheaper
than the Z80. And the Intel
8086 has some chance of
running a more modern
operating system like Unix,
where the eight-bit micros of
today’s systems, cannot.
‘Unix may be all that its
proponents say and be a step
forward,’ said Zaks (I’m para¬
phrasing somewhat) ‘but the
suppliers just don’t under¬
stand that to the user, all
these wonderful features and
protection are useless if the
machine takes 10 seconds to
interpret his commands. And
today’s eight-bit micros are
just too slow to run
Unix’. So we have the old
Apple II, the creaking
TRS-80 (Model I banned in
America, Model II very
pricey, Model III still not
really supported) and the
PET which is strong only in
Europe and has made a real
mess of things in the US and
is no more modern except for
the MicroMainframe. On all
this rather outdated hard¬
ware, we have Visicalc,
Wordstar and CP/M, of which
only Visicalc has any real
future to it.
While the chip makers
have the most amazing tech¬
nology waiting, the custom¬
ers are equally far ahead, he
noted. ‘We used to have to
explain what a computer can
do. Nowadays, by contrast,
the customer knows what he
wants. He wants indexing,
forecasting, word processing,
database, and other things
and the machinery just can’t
deliver. There is a tremendous
market pressure building up,
waiting for the right products
to emerge,’ Zaks said.
I think he’s right about the
possibility of selling many
millions — even billions-worth
of micros by 1985. I’ll also
add my opinion that the
more powerful machines
won’t be widely available
until they are cheaply avail¬
able. Who needs powerful
minis, anyway? We’ve got
those already, with masses
of software already written.
When powerful minis cost
£335, it’s a different
prospect, however.
Z8000
module
One good sign that the Z8000
may be turning into a widely
available chip is the release,
by its designer (Zilog) of a
cheap development module
for engineers to play with.
It’s called the Z8001
Development Module. It has
some minimal monitor soft¬
ware, a segmented Z8000
capable of driving eight mega¬
bytes of memory but with
only 16k words on the board
and some input and output
ports. Details from Zilog in
Maidenhead on (0628)
36131.
Electronic
mailbox
In the September issue of US
magazine Microcomputing ,
editor Wayne Green devotes
his ‘Publisher’s Remarks’
column to the need for, and
the megabucks to be made
from, an electronic mailbox
system, ie, a system for
sending text over the phone
line via a microcomputer,
stored for perusal at leisure
by the recipient’s computer.
If we skip over the issue
of whether or not ‘The
Source’ and other such net¬
works are to be counted
(Wayne doesn’t mention
them), then for once the little
old UK is ahead of the game.
Prestel called a press
conference on 23 September
to launch its Mailbox service.
Available initially only to
subscribers in London and
the SE who have access to
the Enterprise computer, the
facility will be extended to
the other computers of the
Prestel network in early
1983 once PANDA is in
operation.
The sender calls up a
would-be recipient’s account
no. and then accesses a ‘mail¬
box frame’ on the Prestel
computer. If he/she has an
alphanumeric keyboard he/
she may deposit therein a
screenful of message; if only
a numeric pad, then a variety
of preformatted messages
may be left, such as ‘Order
acknowledged’, ‘Booking
confirmed’, ‘Congratulations’
and ‘Get well soon’. The
latter include wonderfully
artless graphics, such as a
glass of champagne or
a basket of flowers! The cost
will be 5p per frame but is on
free trial offer until January
1982.
The recipient will be noti-
This is an ultraviolet box and it costs just £45; don't try to
get a suntan with it, oryou y ll be disappointed (it y ll blind
you if you manage to jimmy the safety interlock system) but
for erasing eraseable memories, it could be a bargain. Details
from Hi-Tek Distribution in Cambridge, tel 0954 81996
PCW 63
NEWSPRINT
Conceal your ZX81 (see Computer cosmetics I)
Reveal your Apple (see Computer cosmetics II)
fied that a message is waiting
the next time Prestel is
accessed; a directory of users
will be available, obviously
enough, on Prestel. With first
class post now at 14p it only
requires a modest Fortran
program to calculate how
many words your message
needs to be before you break¬
even on such a deal. You
didn’t forget to add the
connection charge and price
of the phone call did you?
Hardware permitting, though,
at least your message will get
there in less than four days
via Prestel.
Computer
cosmetics I
Ashamed of your ZX80/81s
scrawny physique? Bullies
will no longer kick sand in
its video interface if you
conceal it completely within
a Fuller FD81. This is a case/
keyboard/power supply unit
into which the Sinclair PCB
fits; Fuller Designs claims all
Sinclair peripherals are
accommodated, and that
its own motherboard and
16k RAM board will follow.
In kit form or assembled,
from £18.95 (keyboard kit),
details are available from
Fuller Designs Ltd, Sandfield
Park East, Liverpool LI2
9HP (state whether ZX80 or
81).
Computer
cosmetics 11
If on the other hand you are
inordinately proud of the
number of Apple add-on
cards you have amassed, then
a transparent lid called
‘Appleview’ will allow the
neighbours to ogle them.
Such exhibitionism will set you
back £17.50 plus VAT.
Should your neighbour be
inflamed to covet them,
you can deny him/her
access by adding an
‘Applelock’ for a further
£12.00 plus VAT (also adds
to standard lid). Show-offs
should contact Datron Micro
Centre, 2 Abbeydale Road,
Sheffield. Tel: 0742
585490.
In brief
On the subject of gaming and
pecuniary reward. . . Ingersoll
announces that Missile
Command and Asteroids are
now available for the Atari
Video Computer System.
Several of our staff could be
saved from destitution in the
pubs and arcades of the West
End; but only if they release
Battle Zone as well.
On the other hand Tantus
Microsystems announces
succesful trials with a ‘leading
bookmaker’ of a new
terminal which allows direct
entry of telephone bets into a
computer. Advantages
include ‘low cost bet
checking, setting and
accounting’. Why not a
terminal which directly debits
a punters bank account
without the tedious business Contrary to this evidence, you don't have to have a double-
of betting at all. . ? barrelled name to use Prestel (see ‘Electronic mailbox ’).
Toshiba
launch
Toshiba’s new T-200 Small
Business Computer is being
launched by Office
International at the
International Business Show
(20 October). The T-200
is to be marketed as an
integrated system, which
includes 80x24 screen, 560k
of twin double side/double
density disk, RS232C inter¬
face, a detached keyboard
and an 80character 125 cps
dot matrix printer with 132
character option. 64k RAM is
standard and Toshiba
Business Basic which is said
to include ‘the main utility
programmes’ completes the
package; the press release
carefully claims ‘the ability
to operate in CP/M 2.2’
which is not the same as
claiming that it’s available
yet. On the other hand,
invoicing, ledger and payroll
software are to be avail¬
able on launch.
The hardware looks very
neat in the picture. The
package price of £2995 is not
far off the mark for that
spec (check a Superbrain with
a comparable printer), so
with Office International’s
130 outlets and adequate
software support, it could do
well.
Toshiba's T-200 system. Green screen VDU plus obstructive
hairstyle are said to reduce operator fatigue (see Toshiba
launch ’).
And now, the micro you
can run a truck over
What has 144k of non-vola¬
tile CMOS RAM, a Z-80 com¬
patible processor, Basic in
ROM, is hand-held, British-
designed and -manufactured
and can be run over by a
truck with impunity?
Yes, it does exist and no,
I hadn’t heard of it either
until recently. It’s called the
64 PCW
p
h a T SH ^PSHAPo SHA ^
SlM5fsS
iPQtts * ^
Sh<,, Pprl? n oll
,^ Pp,/ ®</6v Cfs *
111Z- I I lf SPECIAL OFFER!
A proper full size microcomputer for less than
the real cost of a toy microcomputer.
The Sharp comes with 48 k of RAM and the
screen and cassette are built in, instead of
being expensive extras.
Nett VAT Total
347.00 52.00 399.00
OTHERNESS PRICES
NETT
V.A.T.
TOTAL
MZ80 I/O Expansion Interface.
96.00
14.40
1 10.40
MZ80 F.D. Dual Disks.
. 560.00
84.00
644.00
MZ80 F I/O Disk Interface.
52.00
7.80
59.80
MZ80 FMD Master Disk and Manual. .
. 20.00
3.00
23.00
MZ80 FI5 Disk Cable.
8.00
1.20
9.20
MZ80 FOS Extra Disk Cable.
7.00
1.05
8.05
MZ80 P3 Dot Matrix Printer.
. 365.00
54.75
419.75
MZ80 T20C Machine Language.
. 18.00
2.70
20.70
MZ80 TU Assembler.
. 36.00
5.40
41.40
MZ80 T40E Pascal.
40.00
6.00
46.00
MZ80 l/O-l Universal Interface Card. .
. 40.00
6.00
46.00
i£M§
Shops & Mail Order
LIVERPOOL MICRODIGITAL
33 Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2HF Tel: 051 236 2828
Manager: Tim Best. Between the Town Hall and Magistrates Courts, (within Lasky's).
BIRMINGHAM MICRODIGITAL
19/21 Corporation Street, Birmingham, B2 4LP Tel: 021-632 6303.
Manager Peter Stallard. 300 yards from Bullring Centre (within Lasky's)
EDINBURGH MICRODIGITAL
4 St James Centre, Edinburgh, EH1 3SR. Tel: 031-556 2914
Manager Colin Draper. East end of Princes Street, St. James Centre (within Lasky's).
SHEFFIELD MICRODIGITAL
58 Leopold Street, Sheffield, SI 2GZ. Tel: 0742 750971
Manager Justin Rowles. Top of the Moor, opposite town hall (within Lasky's).
CHESTER MICRODIGITAL
The Forum, Northgate Street, Chester, CHI 2BZ. Tel: 0244 317667.
Manager Jeremy Ashcroft. Next to the town hall (within Lasky's).
MANCHESTER MICRODIGITAL
12/14 St. Mary's Gate, Market Street, Manchester, Ml IPX. Tel: 061 -832 6087.
Manager: Lesly Jacobs. Comer of Deansgate (within Lasky's).
NOTTINGHAM MICRODIGITAL
1/4 Smithy Row, Nottingham, NG1 2DU. Tel: 0602 415150
Within Market Square, Exchange Buildings, Nottingham (within Lasky's)
KINGSTON MICRODIGITAL
38/40 Eden Street, Kingston, KT1 1 EP. Tel: 01-546 1271.
Opposite Main Post Office (within Lasky's)
BRISTOL MICRODIGITAL
16/20 Penn Street, Bristol, BS1 3AN. Tel: 0272 20421.
Opening 16th October. Between Holiday Inn and C. & A (within Laskys)
Mail Order
If you are unable to get to a Microdigital shop then you can buy your requirements from our Mail Order Department at
Microdigital Limited, FREEPOST (No stamp required), Liverpool, L2 2AB
The Conditions of Business are the same as the shops except
1 Allow one week for personal cheques to clear
2 Add £ 1 p&p to orders under £ 10
3 Comage free on orders over £10 within Mainland U K Overseas add 15%
Telephone Orders
Just give your credit card number and requirements on our 24 hour 7 day
Ansaphone Service 051 236 0707 Mail Order Manageress - lyn Major
Microdigital Limited
Microdigital Limited is part of the retail division of the Ladbroke Group of companies
and is registered in England
Registered Number 319646437
Registered Office Chancel House, Neasden Lane, London NW10
Directors P M George P Klein, G W Ralph, D J Sate T Edmundson
Ultimate Holding Company Ladbroke Group Limited VAT Number 240 1132 31
Computer Retailers Association
We are founder members of the Computer Retailers Association, a voluntary organisation of leading micro computer
dealers and service organisations
The purpose of the Association is to mointam and improve standards of trading and customer support within the
industry and to present the industry's case to the outside world The Association also acts as a forum where members
can discuss common problems
Microdigital Mail Order Form
Office Use
only
Goods required
VAT m this ad has been calculated at the rote
of 15% current at the time of writing.
Please allow for any changes.
If you require a Stero Club application form tick this box d
MAIL TO: Microdigital Limited, Freepost, Liverpool L2 2AB
Add £ 1 P & P to
orders under £ 10
Total
Price
Address;.
Barclaycard 4929
rm r m i i ~n
Tel (day)_
. American Express/Dmers Club/
Stereo Club No .
. Expiry date
PCW 11/81
fCRAj
The/VliciDCompuler Specialists
PCW 65
all major manufacturers’equipment, with
typical uses including mini-computers,
word processing, data entry/retrieval, intell¬
igent terminals, and auxiliary storage for
large main frames, amongst many other
applications.
Additionally T/vmlock Diskettes cover
all common types of Diskette, both 8" and
5i,"and come packed in tens,conveniently
available through better local office station¬
ery and equipment suppliers.
The result? With T/vinlock Diskettes
you get the quality you want, but only buy
the quantity you need.
For details of T/vinlock Diskettes and
also our comprehensive Diskette Filing
Twinlock Diskettes.
The quality you want, in
the quantity you need.
Until now when you wanted
Diskettes, you had to buy many more than
you actually needed. Not only that, but you
invariably had to spend valuable time visit¬
ing specialist suppliers to get the quality
you required - an altogether inconvenient
and expensive business.
But not now.
Because T/vinlock, Britain’s leading
supplier of office equipment, are proud to
announce the introduction of T/vinlock
Diskettes, specially manufactured by
Control Data, one of the world’s leading
names in high quality magnetic media.
T/vmlock error-free Diskettes exceed
ANSI, ECMA, ISO, IBM and Shugart indus¬
try standards and are fully compatible with
and Storage range, please write to us at the
address below.
T/vmlock UK Ltd, Marketing - n . .A
Services Dept, 36 Croydon ,w,nioCK
Road, Beckenham, Kent,
BR34BH. (01-658 5931).
Business would be lost without us.
66 PCW
NEWSPRINT
This squishy typewriter, the Maltron, is normally completely
useless to typists. First, it has all the keys in the wrong place
(designed to be much more easily operated but in the wrong
place for a fast typist who can use a qwerty machine) and
second, it normally isn't attached to a typewriter; it's normally
just an electronic keyboard.
Both these objections have been overcome by Ergonics, a
company which has produced a qwerty version of the keyboard
for dinosaur typists like me and has built it into a typewriter
(illustrated) which can be expanded into a microsystem. Details
on Oxford (0865) 55921.
Husky 144 (rugged, out¬
door, geddit?) and it is the
work of DVW Microelectron¬
ics a subsidiary of AID
(Allied International
Designers Ltd). DVW has
developed the Husky to a full
working prototype and a
first batch of virtually hand¬
made machines (the alloy
case is sand cast and mach¬
ined) will soon be available
at a necessarily high £1000+
price. But AID, who are
aggressively and refreshingly
market orientated, are quite
clear that volume production
with an ABS plastic case and
a PET/Apple-competitive
price on both sides of the
Atlantic is the ultimate aim.
The first machines, though,
will go to public utilities,
such as the Severn-Trent Water
Board, in collaboration with
whom the Husky was devel¬
oped. They intend to use it
for complex on-site water-
flow calculations.
The machine has a very
impressive specification
indeed. The processor is the
NSC800, a relatively new
chip which uses the 8085 bus
and is Z-80 compatible. The
144k of non-volatile CMOS
RAM (also NSC) is paged and
automatically managed to
The Husky 144, perhaps the most powerful hand-held com¬
puter to date; you can run a truck over it, but don 7 drop it on your foot.
appear to the user as a con¬
tinuous block.
The display, of Japanese
origin (Epson? L is a large-
scale LCD, witn four lines
of 128 characters total;
the first LCD of such size
to be marketed in a comput¬
er product, but not the last.
The keyboard is a sealed
touch-sensitive job with a
central numeric keypad,
QWERTY and cursor/scroll¬
ing keys. 8k Basic is in ROM,
a DVW implementation on
the prototype, probably
Microsoft on the production
machines. The whole shebang
is cased in a rugged alloy case,
which is to a military hard¬
ware specification which in¬
cludes being waterproof,
shock resistant and ‘Arctic¬
ised’. It weighs in at a chunky
2kg at present and is meant
to be carried on a shoulder
strap. Power is by 1000 hour
alkaline cells with eight hour
reserve cells as back up. An
RS232 interface allows a
printer, VDU or acoustic
coupler to be connected.
The firmware has
obviously received much
thought; perhaps the nicest
touch is that the instruction
manual is held in 8k of ROM
and accessed via a HELP key,
which selects the page appro¬
priate to the current activity,
though you can scroll
backwards and forwards
through it at will. A real time
clock can automatically log
data with entry time and
date.
As if this were not enough,
DVW has set itself the heroic
task of designing an outdoor-
proof disk drive, also battery
operated, so that the Husky
can support CP/M!
Altogether a product
which deserves to succeed,
though the transition from
‘hand made’ to volume prod¬
uction and a keener price will
not be easy to achieve, judged
by the experience of some
previous British bright ideas.
We hope to Benchtest the
Husky very soon.
Enquiries to David
Viewing, DVW Microelect -
onics, 10 The Quadrant,
Coventry CV1 2EL. Tel:
0203 56580/27535.
PCYV 67
DESKTOP
COMPUTING
ACOMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MICROCOMPUTING
We live in an age of cheap computing power. For the first time the cost of a computer
is within the reach of the small businessman, the professional person or the private
citizen. And in the present economic climate the pressure is on to increase productivity
and efficiency using these electronic aids.
SPARES
DEALER
ACCOUNTANT
LIBRARIAN
STOCK
CONTROL
INCOMPLETE
RECORD
PATIENT
RECORDS
CATALOGUE
WORD 1
PROCESSING
YIELDS
QUANTITY
ESTIMATES
RECORDS
PROPERTY
RECORDS
.Personal
Computer)
MUST
INVOICES
Also included are several case studies covering the installation of desk
top computers in small businesses and for professional use together
with a comprehensive listing of virtually every hardware and software
system currently available in the UK.
AVAILABLE NOW PRICE £1-95 FROM YOUR
THE PCW BACK ISSUES CENTRE OR BY MAIL
/-.Personal. \
(Computer)
\ *Wnr1d /
But will your desk top computer be a
boon or a curse? Will it increase your
profits or disrupt your workplace? Will
you be misled by salesmen’s patter,
baffled by programmers’jargon and
find yourself the unhappy owner of a
totally unsuitable system?
Success in computer installation
depends on taking a logical approach to
your task — the Systems Approach; the
side of the microcomputing revolution
they didn’t tell you about. This book,
from the publishers of PERSONAL
COMPUTER WORLD, Britain’s largest-
selling micro magazine, tells you.
Lyn Antill explains, in language
plain enough for the most non-technical
user, the secrets of Systems Analysis, the
key to obtaining the computer system
you need. Step by step, this book tells
you how to:-
♦ Define exactly what tasks you wish
your computer to undertake.
♦ Interpret those tasks in a way the
computer can handle.
♦ Choose the right machine for
present and future needs.
♦ Buy off-the-peg software.
♦ Hire and supervise a programmer
when necessary.
♦ Write program specifications
tailored to your staff and working
methods.
♦ Test programs and introduce them
into your business smoothly with
minimal disruption.
€> Maintain and modify programs.
PCW NEWSAGENTS,
ORDER
68 PCW
LAUNCHED LEVIATHANS,
MANGLED MINNOWS
Martin Banks looks at the effects on the micro industry as the big companies move in.
Imagine the scene. Ex-Hollywood
B-movie actors mix nonchalantly with
the ageing Florida blue-rinses on a har¬
bour wall somewhere near Boca Raton
as the most important VIP, a man with
ne’er a Cary in the world, takes up the
champagne bottle in his hand and says
those immortal words: ‘I name this ship
“The IBM Personal Computer”. May
God bless her, and send my love to the
competition.’
As ‘The IBM Personal Computer’ be¬
gins to glide out into its future life of
tracking its manufacturer’s previously
uncharted waters, a wit in the crowd
yells, ‘Hey, that baby’s heavy. I’d hate
to be a minnow and have that land on
my head.’
Well, there you go. I have managed
to start by writing nonsense again. And
even though it is nonsense, it has a po¬
tential ring of truth about it, a ring of
truth that possibly bodes well for some
and ill for others.
As mentioned before in PCW (and,
doubtless, a million other places), that
ultimate leviathan of the computer in¬
dustry, IBM, has been threatening to
launch a new baby system aimed dir¬
ectly at the market and users developed
by the likes of Apple, Commodore, et
al. Well, of course, it has now been and
gone and done it, and by initial appear¬
ances it would seem to have done it
rather well.
It is only the first of the majors to
launch a full-blown tilt at this business,
and there are no doubt many surprises
yet to come from other companies.
These will be added to the recent pro-
uct introductions from such not-quite-
leviathan-but-very-significant companies
as Hewlett-Packard, Data General and
Digico.
All of these must be added to the
introductions that have come from the
Japanese, with Sharp’s PC-3201 being
followed by NEC (itself a corporate
leviathan, though not in that class
through computers alone) launching its
PC8000 range. Then again, there is Kala¬
mazoo muscling in on the act. The com¬
pany is better known for man-powered
administration systems but, by the
time you read this, it will have launched
its own baby computer system with
‘Made in Britain’ written right
through it.
All of these companies have taken
due note of the direction the mass of
users have, in fact, followed, rather than
the direction they were expected to fol¬
low. When the original microcomputer
manufacturers started to set themselves
up, they were predominantly run by
computer freaks. Their first customers
were also computer freaks. It maybe
seemed logical to suppose that every
other customer would also be a freak.
Not so, of course, for the small bus¬
iness fraternity latched on pretty
quickly to the things. As the technology
improved, so these users could do more
wondrous, and usable, things with
them. They grew into a significant
market.
More importantly, perhaps, they star¬
ted to mark a more long-term direction
for the whole computer industry, a
move away from reliance on mainframes
and minis, and a move away from the
traditional manual methods of small
business administration. Now, for a
company that manufactured main¬
frames or minis, or manual business ad¬
ministration systems, this was a fact
worth noting and acting upon.
IBM
Acted they now have, with the jolly
blue leviathan IBM well up towards
centre stage. It is perhaps on the per¬
formance of IBM’s personal computer,
more than any other company’s, that
the fate of the existing microcomputer
manufacturers now hangs. If IBM gets it
as right as it might at first appeared to
have done, then some of these compa¬
nies could be in for a rough ride. Some
indeed may not make it.
I don’t intend to waste too much
space writing about the actual IBM
machine here, for others will no doubt
partake of that sport. And excellent
sport it should be, for the company
seems to have produced a technically
advanced box of hardware based around
Intel’s 8088 processor. This is an inter¬
esting choice, for while not being truly
avant garde, it provides a sound compro¬
mise between sensible engineering and
the provision of advanced capabilities.
There is a great deal of scope for future
expansion with this beast.
On the software side, the optional
CP/M 86 is also a sound move. More
significant, perhaps, is the optional
Pascal p-code software. This can be
used, in the hands of a knowledgeable
programmer, to greatly extend the
applications capability of the machine.
It matters little, however, especially
in the shorter term, how wonderful the
system is. It could be the ultimate bet¬
ter mouse trap, but it won’t mean a
light if the company fails to market and
sell it properly.
The fact that IBM is for the first time
using externally provided systems soft¬
ware on a new product is just one in¬
dication that the company has thought
long and hard about these very subjects
and maybe has come up with the right
answers. Looking at the system from a
marketing point of view, the use of the
8088 processor falls into perspective. It
is a sensible choice because it is avail¬
able in reasonable and reliable quantities
and at tolerable prices. This means that
IBM can be sure (or as sure as anyone
can in manufacturing) of a continuous
supply of essential parts at good prices.
It is also ‘adventurous’, for the proces¬
sor is powerful enough to allow notable
processing performance.
Put the two together and IBM be¬
comes one of the first companies to pro¬
duce a single system that gets close to
the utopian ‘all-purpose’ machine. It can
be produced cheaply enough to be
directly price-competitive at the low
end and it is powerful enough to be per¬
formance competitive at the high end.
Add, as the jam to this substantial dol¬
lop of bread and butter, communica¬
tions facilities such as the optional IBM
3270 emulator and the company is seen
to cover more bases in one go than any
company before it.
Given that, the potential sales
volume could be enormous, so how is
the company going to tackle the selling
of the system?
Move number one has been
restrictive, on the surface at least.
Initially, the Personal Computer will
only be available in the US and Canada.
This again is probably a sensible move,
for a variety of reasons. Not least among
these is the fact that it is a market that
accounts for around 50 percent of all
world sales. Equally important, how¬
ever, is the fact that it has the most
homogenous distribution and sales
network.
Four-pronged
attack
IBM has chosen a four-pronged at¬
tack, and the homogenous nature of
North American distribution makes this
a far easier task to manage. This is par¬
ticularly important for a company that
has not played the microcomputer game
before.
GOTO page 183
PCW 69
COMMUNICATIONS
PCW welcomes corespondence from its readers but we must warn that it tends to be one way!
Please be as brief as possible and add ‘not for publication’ if your letter is to be kept private. Please
note that we are unable to give advice about the purchase of computers or other
hardware/software - these questions must be addressed to Sheridan Williams (see ‘Computer Answers’
page). Address letters to: ‘Communications’, Personal Computer World, 14 Rathbone Place,
London W1P IDE.
Info on BBC
micro
I am sure most of your readers
will have heard about the
BBC television series on
computers, ‘The Computer
Programme’, which starts
next January. There is al¬
ready tremendous interest in
the BBC Microcomputer
itself and we belive that the
series will do a great deal to
stimulate further interest in
all aspects of computers
and computing. Many viewers
will want to follow up the
series by discovering what is
available in their area in the
way of courses, computer
clubs or centres offering
‘hands-on’ experience. One
way of finding out this
information will be through
the Computer Referral
Service run by Broadcasting
Support Services as part
of the Computer Literacy
Project.
Our address will be given
at the end of each programme
and anyone wanting further
information can write in. To
be able to answer all the
enquiries we need to hear
about what is going on
locally. Some of the inform¬
ation we already have, but
what we are particularly keen
to learn more about are
computer clubs. Clubs will
have a major role to play as
they can be an ideal source
of informal advice and ‘hands
-on’ experience for people
who don’t want to go on a
formal course or who aren’t
quite sure what they want to
do yet.
Ideally, what we would
like to be able to say to
people is ‘here is your nearest
computer club, this is when
they meet, why not go along
and talk to them see if
this is what you want?’ To do
this, though, we need to
know which clubs are willing
to help out in this way. If any
clubs are interested, could
they write to us at the
Computer Referral Service,
P O Box 7, London W3 6XJ.
David Highton, Broadcasting
Support Services, London W3
Bridge
bidding
Seeing David Levy’s interest¬
ing article in the May issue
on how to program a
computer to perform the
difficult task of bidding
bridge hands, I realised that
he (quite understandably)
was unaware of the fact that
this task has already been
successfully completed.
David, and maybe some of
your readers as well, might
be interested in knowing that
my bidding system, ‘Cobra’
(for Computer Oriented
Bridge Analysis), has been
in existence for several years
and will be published in book
form by Victor Gollancz in
November 1981.
Torbjorn Lindelof, Geneva,
Switzerland
Memorite
memo
I’m glad to see Vector Graphic
getting a bit of publicity in
your pages last month with
your very full review of
VG’s own word processing
software, Memorite. As a
daily Mem3 user since it first
came out at the end of last
year I noticed one or two
blunders and oversights.
1. Dating documents
isn’t compulsory. Your
article doesn’t make clear
that you simply enter the
date into the system on
powering up with Memorite.
Thereafter, all documents
will be dated (creation or
revision date) by the
system. But if you don’t
want a file title to carry a
date, or for some reason
you’re shy about letting the
system know what day it is,
you can always save docu¬
ments with the WR R (Write
to Disk, Raw) command’
2. Spell operates on an
algorithm rather than a
dictionary and there are, as
you say, some surprising
oversights — like Memorite
not being able to spell its
own name! You’ve described
the temporary dictionary
Spell creates so that it won’t
query a word you’ve already
marked as acceptable. What
you don’t mention is that
this temporary dictionary can
then be converted into a
permanent file, which you
either append to your own
dictionary or save as a sub¬
sidiary dictionary for (say)
proof-reading specialist
documents. Once the word
‘Memorite’, for example
has been included in sucn
a file, the word will never be
queried whenever the file
name is appended to the end
of the command string, as:
SPELL < document-name >
< dictionary-name >
3. The latest version of
Memorite will write to a dot
matrix printer. There are also
extensive provisions for
providing jump tables to
customise both the key to
screen-character and screen-
character to print-character
mapping. Different jump
tables can be pulled in from
inside Memorite, so one can
to switch from, say, an
English to a French character
set tres facilement.
4. Backing up onto flop¬
pies isn’t quite as tough as
you suggest. Floppies aren’t
the best medium for this —
though of course they’re
better than nothing — and
database files that exceed the
capacity of a floppy are a
particular problem. But the
3003 comes with a pair of
programs, Store and Restore,
that allow large files to be
written onto a set of floppies
and then joined up again if
they ever need to be shunted
back to the hard disk.
5. The hard disk operates
as a logical pair of drives (A:
and B:) in one of its configur¬
ations; an alternative con¬
figuration sets it as a single
drive.
6. The floppy drive is
single-sided in one of its
configurations, which gives it,
as you say, a capacity of
around a quarter k. But this is
only to provide compatibility
with Vector Graphics earlier
Micropolis drives. The Tandon
drive in the 3003 is chiefly
intended to operate in
double-sided mode, which
appears to the system as a
single logical drive of around
600k capacity.
The foregoing is mostly
a mopping-up operation after
a very thorough and fair
review and I’m really only
butting in because the soft¬
ware (and its predecessor
MEM2) has done a lot of
good work for me and
has already paid for itself
many times over. Incidentally,
I don’t share your doubts
about its suitability for the
author/joumalist. I use Mem3
for my TV scriptwriting,
technical writing and journ¬
alism, and the best thing
about it, as you’ve spotted,
is the file-handling, which
means you can go back to a
disk months later and just
by looking at the dictionary
identify every file on it, as
well as know each file’s date
of creation and last revision.
Word-processing systems that
don’t provide this sort of
chest-of-drawers for docu¬
ment files aren’t much use
to me professionally.
I agree with you that it’s
a pity document length
should be limited to the size
of the work-area. To some
extent this is alleviated by
a command that links files
together for printing, but
the real thing would be nice.
The absence of full on-screen
formatting is occasionally
something of a problem:
MEM3 will tell you where
pages will break, but not
where lines end, so if you
want to move a page break it
has to be to the beginning of
a paragraph or you run the
risk of introducing an un¬
intended short line. But on
the whole I much prefer the
way Mem3 makes the
maximum use of the screen
area and lets hard-copy form¬
atting take care of itself
according to imbedded
format commands.
Chris Bidmead, London NW3
ACC at
PCW show
Please may I put on record
as soon as possible after the
event how much the Amateur
Computer Club appreciated
the offer to attend and
organise the amateur side of
the PCW Show. All the user
groups and clubs present
have also voiced their thanks.
The show was an obvious
success and I like to think
that the clubs contributed
towards it by giving impartial
advice and replying to tech¬
nical enquiries which would
be difficult for even the
manufacturers to answer!
I would also like to thank
the staff at Montbuild, the
show’s organisers, who could
not have been more helpful
and friendly.
Dr David Annal,
ACC Exhibition Organiser.
Beating
Gomoku
No doubt many readers have
discovered ways of beating
the Gomoku program (PCW y
August ‘81). Here are a
couple of ways I have found:
Playing first: 35, 36,56,
24, 47,42, 64, 52, 65, 37, 38
-win next move.
Playing second: 44, 53,
42, 65, 62, 73, 72, 71, 74-
win next move.
As the program contains a
random element, these plays
guarantee a win.
By the way, I see from
‘Chip Chat’ that someone
has adopted ‘Othello’ as a
trade mark. What’s his name
— Shakespeare?
J Aughton, Southport.
Computopia
We were very interested,
though a little puzzled to
read the comments in Sept¬
ember’s PCW concerning
Micro-Sci disk drives, under
the title ‘Apple Crush’.
One of the impressions
gained from the editorial
was that these drives, and
their users apparently suffer
great problems when trying
to read ordinary Apple disks.
In our experience this is
not so. The 40-track Micro-
70 PCW
COMMUNICATIONS
Sci drives (A40) will boot
and/or read ordinary Apple
disks (35 track) with high re¬
liability and increased speed.
The additional 20k of
storage is gained by access¬
ing more tracks towards the
centre of the disk. So an A40
can be considered as a stand¬
ard Apple drive if desired, or
the extra space can be access¬
ed by using the modified DOS
provided. The 70-track drives
(A70) have twice the number
of tracks of an Apple drive
and require a modified DOS
to take advantage of the
extra storage. This DOS is
capable of reading 35 40, or
70 track disks, thus allowing
the A70 to read ordinary
Apple disks — but not boot
them — unless the software
has been transferred to the
A70 DOS.
There are some programs
that will not boot on either
drive type, typically those
using half-track security
methods. Incidentally, Visi-
calc will run on A40 drives,
although it only makes use of
35 tracks.
Pascal and CP/M, provided
you wish to ignore the extra
storage available, can be run
unchanged on an A40, but it
obviously makes sense to
take advantage of the extra
tracks by using the utilities
available to modify each
system.
In conclusion, the A40
drives can be used as Apple
drive substitutes (with certain
software specific exceptions),
but more storage is available
if required. The A70 drives
can read/run ordinary Apple
data/software, using the A70
DOS, but are mainly intended
as higher storage devices
(1/4 Megabyte).
We hope this clarifies
the issue of compatibility
and shows that the situation
is nowhere near as dire as
may have appeared from
previous comments.
C Sunderland, Managing
Director, Computopia Ltd.
Puzzler
solved
I suspect that the problem is
due to inaccuracies of float¬
ing point arithmetic. From
test runs on my ZX81 it
appears t^at numbers less
than 1 (2 ) in decimal notat¬
ion, with tne exception ot
other powers of 2, eg 0.125
(2’ 3 ), convert to an approx¬
imate binary form. This
approximation tends to build
up as an inaccuracy as calc¬
ulation are made.
Although the decimal
form appears to be correct
when printed out, presumab¬
ly the relational operator
testing for equality ( = ) uses
binary numbers. Due to the
different approximation of
the two numbers being
compared, equality will never
be satisfied as the binary
forms are not identical.
A solution is to modify
the program, eg by multi¬
plying through by 10 to
remove the figures after the
decimal point if you suspect
that the answer is not an
exact power of 2. (It is
interesting to note that the
test for equality does how¬
ever work when using steps
of exact powers of 2 .Try
0.00048828125 (2' T1 ) in
an appropriate program).
J G Taylor, Dartford, Kent
North Star
GT
The excellent article on
HMSOS in your September
issue highlights once more
the problem of using fully
the limited 64k address
space in an 8-bit micro¬
computer. North Star, like
many other companies,
‘waste’ 8k of this on their
popular Horizon computer
largely because of the way in
which the floppy disk system
is addressed. This effectively
limits actual Basic program
and data space to about
32k which is proving restrict¬
ive as program size inevitably
increases.
After overcoming many
teething troubles, a way has
been found to overcome this.
A special SI00 card is used to
automatically switch in and
out the top 8k of RAM as
required by the program and
the operating system. This
permits the full use of the
64k address range under DOS
and up to 63k under CP/M.
No modifications to exist¬
ing programs are necessary.
If anyone is running out of
program space on their
Horizon and wants details
of how to do this, telephone
me on 01-788 5054.
Derek Eldridge, Tantus
Microsystems, Putney.
Tandy
warranty
As secretary of the North
West TRS-80 Users Group,
I feel that the public and
prospective microcomputer
purchasers should be inform¬
ed of a recent problem that
one of our members has
experienced, with Tandy, in
relation to after sales service.
It was pointed out to our
member, by Tandy’s Burnley
store manager, that because
his CPU was six months old,
it was no longer within
Tandy’s warranty and that
Tandy does not give more
than 90 days’ warranty on its
computers.
Firstly I should like to
bring to the attention of
prospective purchasers that
TRS-80s purchased from
sources other than Tandy,
of which there are many,
often come with a full 12
months warranty.
Secondly^ the apparent
attitude of Tandy on after¬
sales service seems to have
gone full circle. In the past,
I personally have had very
good after sales service, but
with Tandy’s recent attitude
this seems to have disappear¬
ed.
On behalf of our group
and the member mentioned
above, I am taking steps to
find out whether Tandy has
the legal right, under the Sale
of Goods Act to actually
reduce a purchaser's rights
to a 90-day period. If Tandy’s
90-day warranty stands in a
court of law, prospective
purchasers of a TRS-80
can decide for themselves
where to make their
purchase.
Melvyn Franklin, Group
Secretary, TRS-80 Users’
Group.
Subscript
solution
Alan Sutcliffe mentioned in
his article ‘Patterns’ ( PCW ,
Aug) that subscripts in the
DAI, ‘even though they may
be typed in as integers, are
always listed — and presum¬
ably stored — as floating
point numbers’. The solution
to this problem is to change
the default for all numeric
information from floating
point format (to which it is
automatically set on power
up) to integer format. This is
done using the following
command: IMP INT.
Obviously when the default is
changed to integer, any float¬
ing point variables required
will have to be explicitly
defined using the IMP com¬
mand.
To eliminate the floating
point subscripts from Mr
Sutcliffe’s program the first
few lines should be altered
as follows:
IMP INT
IMP FPT A-H
IMP FPT Q-Z
Clear 10000
Etc.
Michael Coughlan, The
National Institute for
Higher Education, Limerick,
Eire
Illogical shift
I refer to the Sinclair advert¬
isement on page 137 of the
September issue of PCW.
Does ‘Uncle Clive’ know
something about the British
weather that no-one else
knows, since his printer,
will be available in ‘Summer
81?’
As I write in late August,
is this perhaps a late Spring in
the Sinclair ‘timeshifted’
year?
J Farrall, Leek, Staffs.
ZX81 points
Here are a few points about
the ZX81:
1) GOTOs can be followed
not only by line numbers,
but also variable and arith¬
metic expressions (in effect
the ON statement).
2) It is possible to have a type
of FOR...WHILE loop by
using:
‘IF (condition) THEN NEXT’
If the condition is true, the
loop continues and if not the
computer goes on to the next
line.
3) When the memory is
nearly full, the computer will
not allow the EDIT function
to be used which means a lot
of unnecessary typing has to
be done. This can be avoided
by:
a) positioning the cursor on
the required line;
b) typing CLEAR;
c) When the display goes to
0/0 then press the EDIT key.
4) The Meteors program on
the cassette can be shortened
(and improved) by:
a) deleting lines 135, 210,
230,310, 315;
b) moving lines 220 to 265
and 240 to 295;
c) replacing the PAUSE and
POKE statements by a FOR
. . NEXT loop (FOR 1 to 20
should provide a reasonable
delay);
d) Changing lines: 130 LET
X=12. 250 PRINT AT 1,31; ”
”, 270 IF PEEK (33+P+K)
. . . etc.
The game is run in the
slow mode.
A Barrett, Wembley
Flying high
As a poverty-stricken,
low-time private pilot
recently introduced to micro¬
computing, I would be very
interested to know if there
is any software available for
the simulation of instrument
flying (as distinct from
VMC flying) on a micro.
If there is, who sells it
and what machine(s) does it
run on?
B M Neary, Coventry
If any readers have the
answer to this question ,
they could let us know
through communications —
Ed.
Let’s get
together
I am a lecturer in chemistry
and have recently taken an
interest in computing. With
the rapid increase in the
number of schools and
colleges possessing their own
microcomputers, I was sur¬
prised to find the lack of
good educational software
available. Programs written
for GCE and lower school
work appear to have been
written by computer buffs
rather than specialist subject
teachers and consequently
do not relate too well to their
subject (rather like a badly
written textbook), mathemat¬
ics being the exception, of
course.
At Brooklands we have
three PETs in this department
and are starting to build a
library of educational
programs, some written by
our own lecturers (including
PCW 71
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bidirectionally
j
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unidirectional printers. A dense 9x9
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In addition to normal upper and lower
case, ten character per inch printing,
the 82A prints both double width and
condensed characters at six or eight
lines per inch Font selection, character
pitch and line spacing are all standard
and program-controlled.
Graphics
Microline users can generate charts,
graphs and illustrations and explain
them with captions of double width
characters. The Microline 82A prints
64 block shapes in addition to the full
character ASCII set
Three Printers in One
Microline 82A users do not have to
purchase different models for different
forms. The standard platen
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The Microline 82A provides versatile
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Interfaces
The Microline 82A is offered with both
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PCW 73
O o
COMMUNICATIONS
myself) and some by teachers
of local schools with whom
we have exchanged programs.
At present they are limited to
mainly scientific subjects
including chemistry, biology,
physics, geology, geography
and environmental science
but we are hoping to add
English and French to the
range.
I would like to hear from
other teachers and lecturers
with whom we might ex¬
change ideas and programs.
Although we would prefer
exchange, we are quite happy
to send listings to any educa¬
tional establishment. Our
own programs are written for
‘O’ and ‘A’ levels.
Michael Gilford, Brooklands
Technical College, Heath
Rd, Weybridge, KT13 8TT
Big brother
I am writing to tell you of
my amazement at the
procedure required to visit
your exhibition on 10
September. After paying the
requisite sum of £2, I was
required to give my name
and address, business
interests, and spare time
activities before I was allowed
to enter the show.
The young lady at the
reception desk insisted that I
would not be given a
coloured disk unless I filled
out the details of the entry
ticket. The attendant at the
entrance to the show would
not allow me into the hall
unless I had a coloured disk
on my entry ticket. All this
fuss after paying the entrance
fee! Despite my objections to
providing the personal infor¬
mation demanded, both were
adamant.
Having in my possession a
copy of every issue of PCW,
I have over a period of time
formed the conclusion that
yours is a responsible publica¬
tion concerned, among other
things, with the confidential
nature of material in data
collection systems. The
events referred to above have
caused me to revise my con¬
clusion. It was unnecessary
for you to know any of the
details demanded on the
entry ticket. A request for
information would have been
met in a different spirit but
with no different end result.
To avoid further alter¬
cation, I completed the card
with completely false data
which, strangely enough,
seemed to satisfy everybody.
So some of the information
that you have from the show
is wrong and I wonder what
use you will make of it. How
many other visitors gave
wrong information is hard to
assess, but I am sure that I
was not the only one to ob¬
ject to giving personal infor¬
mation in these circumstances.
I do not object to giving per¬
sonal information if there is a
‘need to know’ but this was
not one of those instances.
The future of a police-
controlled, or similar, state
tm /
r
D »
r
*
H
ft,
i
y
draws closer every time that
an unnecessary demand for
personal information is made.
I see a future (and 1984 is
near) where the processors of
the police, Ministry of Trans¬
port, National Health Service,
Social Services, Inland
Revenue, banks, credit cards,
credit rating bureaux and
market research organisations
are all linked. Free access to
such data will be the norm. In
your small way you have
tended to assist this process
and I, hopefully, have foiled
you.
J Turner, London Ell
Thanks for giving us your real
name and address , Mr Turner
— we 'll add it to our data¬
base , ready for the day we go
online to the Thought Police
computer.
We can assure everyone
who filled in registration
forms correctly that the in¬
formation will be used solely
for planning next year's show
and will most certainly not be
passed to any outside organi¬
sations — Ed.
More
Gomoku
Reader B E Newson,
(‘Communications’ PCW
Oct) claims he has a winning
line as black against Bob
Chappell’s Gomoku program
(Aug PCW).
Unfortunately, move 15
(see diagram) is illegal in all
but the ancient Chinese ver¬
sions of the game: Black is
not allowed to make
simultaneously two open
threes (a row of three stones
capable of being converted to
an open four, which is a row
of four capable of being
converted to a row of five in
two ways). The open threes
here are 9-15—13 and
15-7 11.
I can’t say much about
the program but it can’t be
much cop if it doesn’t point
out illegal moves and as far
as being ‘unbeatable’, there
would be many people in
Japan willing to take Black,
with the proper rules and
stake a lot of money on
winning. They still tell a
story there of a Danish
professor of computing who
claimed his algorithm made
him world champion.
Challenged by low-grade
Renju professionals, he was
ground into the board by
some ridiculous margin.
Incidentally the name
‘Gomoku’ used by American
computer hobbyists is quite
incorrect but if prospective
Gomoku programmers want
alternative names they can
choose from the Japanese
Gomoku-narabe, Go-narabe,
Goren, Goseki, Kakugo,
Gogo, Gocho, Gorengo,
Miyako-go, etc. There are also
many Chinese and Western
names for the game: the
Chinese Wu-tzu-ch’i and the
Western Go-bang and
Pegity. More importantly,
they should get the rules
right (I know of no accurate
source in English) and realise
there are several versions.
Also, in the series
‘Computer Games’, PCW has
perpetrated the error that
Renju is the same as
Gomoku. It isn’t, though it is
a derivative. Renju is a far
better game, played profes¬
sionally in Japan, but again
there are no correct rules in
English.
If enough readers want the
complete rules of both games
ou can write to me care of
CW, enclosing a large SAE.
John Fairbairn, Harrow
Softy 2
I have just read the
‘Checkout’ on Softy 2 (PCW,
Oct) and frankly it doesn’t
please me much. Neil Cryer
doesn’t seem very happy
about Softy but he is
obviously not an engineer
and has no use for such
equipment.
Much of Neil’s criticism
is valid only for the proto¬
type sample we sent you so
that you could get into print
while the subject was still
news. There are several errors
of fact in the text and much
of Softy’s capability has
escaped mention.
Firstly the ‘flimsy plastic
case’. Early samples of the
case, for photos etc, were
taken straight from the
wooden model in 0.8mm
ABS. Later production is in
1.6mm ABS- and you can
stand on the case. Then, in
the paragraph dealing with
operation, a reference is made
to the MOVE command
allowing a block of 110 hex
bytes to be moved from one
position to another — it
should be 127 bytes. A bug
worked its way into the
article later on, with
reference to the checking of
any program using the screen
of the host system as a
window and Softy in ROM
emulator mode. Finally the
last paragraph is a mis¬
direction. There is no ‘more
sophisticated system’ that
will do the same tasks that
Softy does.
The idea that Softy is use¬
ful only to impoverished
enthusiasts willing to program
in Hex at the lowest level
is quite untrue. In system
developments of even
modest complexity there is
no substitute for an assemb¬
ler. Softy forms the link
between the assembler and
the nascent product. Most
development systems are
costly and not portable in
any sense of the word. I
like to think that Softy
was designed to suits its
purpose exactly and is not
thoughtless or substandard
in any way. Soft is actually
meant to be small and
light and cheap to fit the
engineer’s pocket or brief¬
case. The keyboard isn’t
meant for continuous use
nor for continual hexa¬
decimal entry of programs.
In most applications this
is unnecessary. Efforts have
been made to keep cost and
weight down — the ‘improve¬
ments’ you seem to think
necessary would, in fact,
ruin the product. It is most
unusual tor any of the
engineers who are our
customers to be less than
delighted with the
facilities of their Softy.
Barry Savage, Dataman
Designs, Dorchester
Dr Cryer is in fact a
physicist with extensive
computing experience. And
it was not made clear to us
that the machine supplied
for review was a prototype
sample. Wherever possible we
try to review only production
— quality items and we
assume that this is what we
receive unless we 're told
otherwise — Ed.
74 PCW
NEWS 1
David Tebbutt brings you the latest update.
THANET START-UP
Do you live in the Thanet area? If you
do you’ll be delighted to hear that a
ComputerTown is about to open in
Broadstairs public library. Opening day
is 16 October and the show will run
from 5 to 8 pm. Peter Kiff is the man
responsible for getting this one off the
ground and he and his band of helpers
will be there every Friday from the
16th onwards. Well done Peter and all
your anonymous colleagues. This month
we’ve also been hearing rumours of a
’Town starting in Harrow but I’m still
waiting for a letter with the details.
It’s silly isn’t it, but I’m almost
disappointed at only hearing from one
new ComputerTown this month —
perhaps everyone was too busy getting
along to the PCW Show to get their new
’Towns off the ground. Were you there?
Wasn’t it busy? We’re going to need
Olympia next year the way things are
going. The ComputerTown stand was a
roaring success, with lots of very serious
interest shown as well as a lot of fun
being had by all. Our sincere thanks go
to Ingersoll who supplied all those
Atari machines and to the brave band of
volunteers who helped out on the stand.
I’ve started getting enquiries already as a
result of the show and that finished
only a few days ago.
One of the problems all Computer-
Towns face is lack of machines and lack
of volunteers. I get the feeling that there
are a lot of people out there with
machines who’d thoroughly enjoy
themselves if they came along to a
’Town night from time to time. It’s no
good saying to yourself They won’t
want me, I don’t know enough about
computers’ — if you use one then you
know quite enough to help out. No-one
is looking for experts, just interested
people willing to share their knowledge
and experience (and computers). It’s
no good either saying to yourself
They’ve probably got all the help they
need, what would they want with me’
— the fact is we’re all short of people
and every new volunteer lightens the
load for everyone else. If you feel you’d
like to help with ComputerTown then
please don’t hang back, we’d love to see
you and if you’re in an area without a
ComputerTown, why not start one
yourself? I’ll send you some guidelines
if you send me an SAE to the address
in the box.
Last month I mentioned that I’d
received a couple of letters from the
Beeb. Well, this month I received a
couple more. One you’ll find repro¬
duced in the ‘Communications’ section
of the magazine this month and the
other one asked me to invite all the
ComputerTowns to participate in the
Beebs referral scheme. The idea is that
every time someone contacts the
Beeb for information about computers,
it can put them on to local clubs,
colleges, ComputerTowns or what-have-
you. I wrote an appropriate letter for
the Beeb to send to all ’Towns and gave
them a mailing list as well. If you’ve not
heard yet and you’d like to be involved
then drop a line to David Highton,
Broadcasting Support Services, 252
Western Avenue, London W3 6XJ. I’d
suggest you turn to ‘Communications’
first for a fuller idea of what this is all
about.
The funniest letter this month came
from someone asking us to send details
to them urgently in the enclosed SAE;
a) There was no SAE; b) There was no
address on the letter; and c) we couldn’t
read the person’s signature! So if you’re
wondering why it’s taking so long for
me to write to you then you may be the
guilty party. Incidentally, the urgency
was stressed because this particular
enquirer was leaving the country for
Israel a few days after writing to me.
Ho hum.
A number of people have written
expressing a willingness to start
ComputerTowns in their own areas.
Here are their names and addresses.
If you’d like to help out then I’m sure
they’d love to hear from you: Francis
Glenister, 13 Pridmouth Road, Withing-
ton, Manchester M20 9GN; P P
Bartlett, 273 Kings Drive, Eastbourne,
East Sussex BN21 2UR;MissS Beckett,
7 Lingmoor Rise, Kendal, Cumbria
LA9 7NP; John Byfield, ‘Moonrakers’,
The Rutts, Bushey Heath, Herts WD2
1LH; Tabassam Kayani, SOBAT
Computer Club, 12 Calderon Road,
London Ell 4EV; Wing Commander
Brian Carroll RAF, The Cottage, Manor
Road, Aldershot, Hants; L M Symonds,
14 The Quay, Appledore, Bideford,
North Devon, EX39 IQS.
The Scottish Microelectronics
Development Programme is a very
active group when it comes to micro¬
computing and they’ve (inevitably) got
to hear about ComputerTown. If any
of you read their periodical, Phase Two ,
then keep your eyes peeled for an
article about ComputerTown. They’ve
kindly asked us if they can reprint parts
of our Guidelines document.
Finally, here are the areas from
which we’ve received letters this month:
Stirchley, London (Nl, N20, SW11),
Bury, Cranleigh, Naunton Beauchamp,
Cults, Withington, Lydiate, Wembley,
Sheffield and Blackwater.
ComputerTown UK! is an ever-grow¬
ing network of computer literacy
centres, where members of the public
are given free access to micro¬
computers, courtesy of those willing
to volunteer their time and equip¬
ment. ComputerTowns might be
found anywhere: in a church hall,
a library or maybe in a school after
hours. The emphasis is on making
computing enjoyable and non-threat¬
ening and, because Computer Town
is entirely non-commercial, overt
axe-grinding of any sort is banned.
Guidelines are available for those
interested in setting up their own
’Towns: Write to CTUK!, 7 Collins
Drive, Eastcote, Middlesex HA4 9EL
and remember to enclose a large
SAE (A4 would be fine) for your
reply. Please don’t try to telephone
PCW for information because this
project is entirely a spare-time
activity.
PCW 75
The Sinclair ZX80 is innovative and powerful.
Now there’s a magazine to help you get
the most out of it.
SYNC magazine is different from other
personal computing magazines. Not just
different because it is about a unique
computer, the Sinclair ZX80 (and kit ver¬
sion, the MicroAce). But different be¬
cause of the creative and innovative phi¬
losophy of the editors.
A Fascinating Computer
The ZX80 doesn’t have memory map¬
ped video. Thus the screen goes blank
when a key is pressed. To some review¬
ers this is a disadvantage. To our editors
this is a challenge. One suggested that
games could be written to take advan¬
tage of the screen blanking. For exam¬
ple, how about a game where characters
and graphic symbols move around the
screen while it is blanked? The object
would be to crack the secret code gov¬
erning the movements. Voila! A new
game like Mastermind or Black Box
uniquely for the ZX80.
We made some interesting discoveries
soon after setting up the machine. For
instance, the CHR$ function is not limit¬
ed to a value between 0 and 255, but
cycles repeatedly through the code.
CHR$ (9) and CHR$ (265) will produce
identical values. In other words, CHR$
operates in a MOD 256 fashion. We
found that the “=” sign can be used se¬
veral times on a single line, allowing the
logical evaluation of variables. In the
Sinclair, LET X=Y=Z=W is a valid ex¬
pression.
Or consider the TL$ function which
strips a string of its initial character At
first, we wondered what practical value it
had. Then someone suggested it would
be perfect for removing the dollar sign
from numerical inputs.
Breakthroughs? Hardly. But indicative
of the hints and kinds you'll find in every
issue of SYNC We intend to take the
Sinclair to its limits and then push be¬
yond. finding new tricks and tips, new
applications, new ways to do what
couldn t be done before. SYNC functions
on many levels, with tutorials for the be¬
ginner and concepts that will keep the
pros coming back for more. We II show
you how to duplicate commands avail¬
able in other Basics. And, perhaps, how
to do things that can t be done on other
machines.
Many computer applications require
that data be sorted. But did you realize
there are over ten fundamentally differ¬
ent sorting algorithms? Many people
settle for a simple bubble sort perhaps
because it's described in so many pro¬
gramming manuals or because they ve
seen it in another program. However,
sort routines such as heapsort or Shell-
Metzner are over 100 times as fast as a
bubble sort and may actually use less
memory. Sure, IK of memory isn't a lot
to work with, but it can be stretched
much further by using innovative, clever
coding. You'll find this type of help in
SYNC
Lots of Games and Applications
Applications and software are the meat
of SYNC We recognize that along with
useful, pragmatic applications, like finan¬
cial analysis and graphing, you’ll want
games that are fun and challenging. In
the charter issue of SYNC you’ll find se¬
veral games. Acey Ducey is a card game
in which the dealer (the computer) deals
two cards face up. You then have an op¬
tion to bet depending upon whether you
feel the next card dealt will have a value
between the first two.
In Hurkle, another game in the charter
issue, you have to find a happy little
Hurkle who is hiding on a 10 X 10 grid. In
response to your guesses, the Hurkle
sends our a clue telling you in which
direction to look next.
One of the most ancient forms of arith¬
metical puzzle is called a boomerang.
The oldest recorded example is that set
down by Nicomachus in his Arithmetica
around 100 A.D. You’ll find a computer
version of this puzzle in SYNC
Hard-Hitting, Objective Evaluations
By selecting the ZX80 or MicroAce as
your personal computer you’ve shown
that you are an astute buyer looking for
good performance, an innovative design
and economical price. However, select¬
ing software will not be easy Thats
where SYNC comes in. SYNC evaluates
software packages and other peripherals
and doesnt just publish manufacturer
descriptions. We put each package
through its paces and give you an in-
depth, objective report of its strengths
and weaknesses
SYNC is a Creative Computing pub¬
lication Creative Computing is the num¬
ber 1 magazine of software and applica¬
tions with nearly 100,000 circulation.
The two most popular computer games
books in the world, Basic Computer
Games and More Basic Computer
Games (combined sales over 500,000)
are published by Creative Computing
Creative Computing Software manufac¬
tures over 150 software packages for six
different personal computers.
Creative Computing, founded in 1974
by David Ahl, is a well-established firm
committed to the future of personal com¬
puting. We expect the Sinclair ZX80 to
be a highly successful computer and
correspondingly, SYNC to be a respect¬
ed and successful magazine.
Order SYNC Today
Right now we need all the help we can
get. First of all, we d like you to subscribe
to SYNC Subscriptions are posted by air
directly from America and cost just £10
for one year (6 issues). £18 for two
years (12 issues) or, if you really want to
beat inflation, £25 for three years (18
issues) SYNC is available only by sub¬
scription; it is not on newstands We gu¬
arantee your satisfaction or we will re¬
fund the unfulfilled portion of your sub¬
scription
Needless to say, we can't fill up all the
pages without your help. So send in your
programs, articles, hints and tips.
Remember, illustrations and screen
photos make a piece much more inter¬
esting. Send in your reviews of peripher¬
als and software too—but be warned: re¬
views must be in-depth and objective.
We want you to respect what you read on
the pages of SYNC so be honest and
forthright in the material you send us. Of
course we pay for contributions—just
don’t expect to retire on it.
The exploration has begun. Join us.
The magazine for Sinclair ZX80 users
27 Andrew Close
Stoke Golding
Nuneaton CV13 6EL. England
76PCW
COMAL-
With the launch of the BBC Microcomputer, the subject of structured extensions to Basic
has come very much into the news. Here Borge Christensen , its inventor , discusses COMAL
the first and arguably the best of such extended Basics .
In the July issue of PCW Jonathan
Palmer from Currie, Midlothian, wrote
about Basic and Pascal. In many ways
his letter was a very sensible one that
hit an amazing lot of important points
in a few lines. I am sure that his point
of view is shared by thousands of
people who use Basic but at the same
time feel that this language is beginning
to be left behind by the development
of both hardware and software. My
special concern is about his final state¬
ment ‘So what should be done? A
structured Basic seems the best idea so
that one can progress from simple
Basic to structured Basic without the
need to learn a whole new language.
After all, we do want people to use
computers, don’t we?’ In what follows,
I would like to tell Jonathan and his
thousands of fellow partisans how we
solved that problem in Denmark six
years ago, and at the same time I shall
comment on some of the items in his
letter.
Before coming to the main part of
my story I would like to sort out a
few facts and concepts, however. It
is my impression that in very many
letters in PCW and elsewhere about
Basic versus Pascal and interpreters
as opposed to compilers, the languages
and their operational environments
are mixed up. To illustrate the problem
we can take a look at one of the most
user friendly Pascal systems, viz, UCSD
Pascal.
The version referred to in the
following is distributed by SofTech
Microsystems, and I run it on a micro¬
computer with 64kB RAM storage and
two mini diskette stations. It takes
about 45 seconds to load the system
and during that period of time I have to
manipulate correctly three diskettes.
Having been successfully loaded, the
Pascal system proclaims its attendance
by displaying the so-called ‘Prompt
Line’ :
Command: E(dit, R(un, F(ile, Com¬
pile, X(ecute,...
and a few more items. Well, okay, let us
start to write a Pascal program; it is
claimed- to be good for your health!
The first line of the small sample
program I have dug out of some highly
recommended textbook goes like this:
PROGRAM FORI;
Since “PROGRAM” begins with a
“P”, I’d better press the “P” key.
Now what happens? The screen flickers
for a split second and the Prompt Line
is restored. But my “P” seems to have
suffered the same fate as some of the
odd particles in nuclear physics that
only live for a fraction of a second.
What’s wrong? Why, of course! I have
to switch to Edit mode first. This is
done by pressing the “E” key — “E”
for “Edit” — so that’s what I do. After
about five seconds the following is
displayed:
>Edit: A(djst C(py D(lete F(ind I(nsrt. s
followed by a printout of some other
person’s program!! Since I am not
interested in other persons’ inferior
programs, I try to type NEW, which
ought to help. As soon as the “N”
has been pressed the system answers
with a loud BEEP, but my poor “N”
has become the innocent victim of
the same brutal treatment as the “P”
above. By pressing “Q” and answering
correctly to a menu of suggested
actions, I am sent back to command
mode. I type “F” for “File” and the
Filer comes in saluting me:
Filer: G(et, S(ave, W(hat, N(ew, L(dir,...
Ah, there it is! I press the “N” key,
and the system asks me to confirm that
I really want to throw away the work-
file. I do, oh, I do.
Then back to the editor, where it
appears that I have to press “I” to be
allowed to Insert the program, “D”
to be able to Delete one or more charac¬
ters in it, “X” to exchange parts of it,
and — not to forget — after each of
these operations I must press a certain
key to finish it and come back to
edit command mode.
Writing to
Aunt Agatha
During all this I do not get the
faintest hint from the system to tell
me whether the statements of my
program have got a reasonable Pascal
syntax or not. As far as the editor is
concerned, I might just as well be
writing a letter to Aunt Agatha repor¬
ting the latest family reunion instead of
a sensible Pascal program.
Whether it is one or the other is not
revealed until I come back to command
mode and order the system to compile
the text that I have written. It appears
that I have forgotten to put a semicolon
after the name of the program, where¬
upon it takes several seconds to reload
the editor, have the site of the bug
pointed out and named, and then again
several seconds to get the editor into
insertion mode. Having inserted the
semi-colon I have to Quit the editor,
Update the workfile — several seconds —
and invoke the compiler to start anew
on my program. Even with a beginner’s
tiny sixliner program all this “system
ping-pong” may take several minutes,
and as mentioned by Jonathan Palmer,
it can take more than two minutes to
catch and kill a completely trivial
bug.
In the second example a system
that contrasts favourably with the
former will be used, viz. CBM COMAL-
80 — Commodore’s new Structured
Basic. Disk station 0 is loaded with a
diskette and the SHIFT-RUN/STOP
keys of the CBM are depressed. After
15 seconds the system reports its pre¬
sence and willingness to work with
COMAL 80 rev 00.11
You may start typing at once:
10 W?=“HEAP*”
20 S =W
It is obvious that a bug has been
introduced in line 20, and the system
answers with a beep and displays the
following:
type conflict
20 S =W__
with the cursor marking the place where
the bug has been detected. You only
have to press the key and then the
RETURN key to be allowed to go on
with your program.
After having entered the program
you may have it executed immediately
by typing the usual command RUN. An
extremely fast prerun is First performed
by the system. During this prerun
structural bugs — such as FOR without
NEXT — are discovered and reported,
and you are sent back to edit mode
automatically, thus being given the
chance to mend your program and
rehabilitate yourself. After a program
has been approved by the prerun, only
run-time errors may still hide in it. It
is not unusual that small beginners’
programs run flawlessly at the First
trial. And if they do not, it is always a
very straightforward affair to come
back to edit mode and correct the
program using line numbers as refe¬
rences.
Easy to
get started
Let us try to analyse what it is that
makes Basic programming so easy
compared to Pascal programming. In
Basic, lines can be entered in any
order and are automatically placed in
the correct sequence. Syntax checking
takes place on a line-by-line basis as
program statements are typed; thus
it is not possible to store or list an
invalid line of Basic. Run-time errors
identify the offending statement
directly by means of its line number.
It is extremely easy to “get started”
in Basic. Having logged on it is only
necessary to type
10 PRINT “HI, THERE”
RUN
to see your first program live. Most
other language systems perform badly
on this test.
In Pascal you have to learn how to
use a text editor to input or change
programs; in Basic line numbers are
used to replace and delete program
statements as well as to sequence them.
PCW 77
COMAL-801
If your Basic system has a screen
editor at its disposal it is easy to “walk
around” on the screen and make minor
modifications, adjusting printouts, etc.
In Pascal you also need to learn a
separate Operating System command
language to manipulate programs and
files or to specify input or output
devices. Basic has its own set of simple
commands (LIST, RUN, SAVE, etc)
which refer in an obvious way to the
user’s current program, etc.
In Basic at the end of program exe¬
cution, control returns automatically to
the terminal and the program remains
unaltered in the user’s “workspace”.
It can be changed and rerun in a simple
fashion, or the values of specific
variables can be displayed. Many Basic
systems allow particular statements
(eg, assignments) to be executed in
“immediate mode”, ie, as commands,
followed by restarting the program.
Though the features mentioned
above seem to comprise genuine advan¬
tages of Basic over Pascal, they do in
fact not relate to the programming
languages as such , but rather to the
operating environment in which they
are used. The normal use of an inter¬
preter rather than a compiler for Basic
makes many of the user aids described
above much easier to provide, and the
lack of compiled code is not a signi¬
ficant problem for most reasonably
small programs, although it can become
so as Basic is used for more and more
ambitious projects. The use of line
numbers for program input and editing
is an especially valuable feature.
Naturally, a Basic-like environment
could be built around Pascal , but
surprisingly this has not been done.
Though Basic may live in very
convenient operating environments it
is still a very poor language, far inferior
to Pascal. But what can be done about
that? The practical difficulties asso¬
ciated with the abandoning of an
established language make a powerful
argument against “revolutionary”
changes. The alternative option of an
evolutionary approach, ie, improving
Basic rather than replacing it, is an
attractive one. However in choosing
this option it is essential not to lose
sight of the original objectives of the
language, as an easy-to-learn, easy-to-
use, straightforward language (or
system) aimed particularly at the
beginner and non-computer specialist.
Comal is born
In 1974 we faced that problem here
at the States Training College, Tonder,
Denmark. We had been using Basic
for about two years by then to teach
our maths students elementary com¬
puter science. At first everything
seemed just fine. As already mentioned,
Basic is easy to learn, and both the
students and I wrote a lot of programs
— most of them with mathematical
themes — and they ran irreproachably.
However, as programs grew bigger,
errors became more frequent. Very
often I had to sit for quite some time
to find out where a student had made
a mistake, and it began to irritate me
that I often found it difficult to read
even relatively small programs written
in Basic.
I found two main reasons for that:
variable names are much too short
to give any information about what
they represent, and the exclusive use of
GOTO makes it difficult to identify
the structures of the program. I dis¬
cussed the problems with Benedict
Loefstedt, one of the lecturers at the
Institute of Computer Science, Uni¬
versity of Aarhus, and together we
designed a set of extensions of Basic in
order to produce more readable and safer
programs. As a model we used the
algorithmic structures from Pascal —
which was not a very well known
language at that time — and allowed
identifier names of up to eight characters.
After we had designed the extensions,
two students of mine, Knud Christensen
and Per Christiansen, began to modify
our Basic interpreter, and in 1975 we
had the first version running. We called
it COMAL (COMmon Algorithmic
Language). At that time Basic had
become such a nuisance that we wanted
to get rid of the name altogether. Today
we admit that it was a structured Basic
we designed and implemented.
Over the years the first version —
COMAL-75 — has been substantially
0010
DIM COLOR* OF 10, GUESS* OF 10
0020
DIM ANSW* OF 3, LEGAL* OF 30
0030
LEGAL*:= ".RED.YELLOW.GREEN.BLUE."
0040
REPEAT
0050
EXEC BET
0060
EXEC WHEEL
0070
EXEC RESULT
0080
UNTIL HALT
0090
//
01OO
PROC WHEEL
0110
OUTCOME:=RND<1,15)
0120
CASE OUTCOME OF
0130
WHEN 1,3,6,9,12,15
0140
COLOR*:="RED"
0150
FACTOR:=1.5
0160
WHEN 2,5,8,11,14
0170
COLOR*:="YELLOW"
0180
FACTOR:=2
0190
WHEN 4,10,13
0200
COLOR*:="GREEN"
0210
FACTOR:=3
0220
WHEN 7
0230
COLOR*:="BLUE"
0240
FACTOR:=9
0250
ENDCASE
0260
PRINT "******* ",COLOR*," WINS *******"
0270
ENDPROC WHEEL
0280
//
0290
PROC BET
0300
PRINT "WHAT COLOR",
0310
INPUT GUESS*
0320
WHILE NOT ("."+GUESS*+"." IN LEGAL*) DO
0330
PRINT "ONLY (RED,YELLOW,GREEN,BLUE) ALLOWED!"
0340
PRINT "NOW, WHAT DO YOU PICK OUT"
9
0350
INPUT GUESS*
0360
ENDWHILE
0370
PRINT "HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO BET"
0380
INPUT STAKE
0390
WHILE STAKE<10 DO
0400
PRINT "DON’T BE MEAN, MAN!"
0410
PRINT "NOT LESS THAN 10 PENCE"
0420
PRINT "MAY WE ASK FOR YOUR BET",
0430
INPUT STAKE
0440
ENDWHILE
0450
ENDPROC BET
0460
//
0470
PROC RESULT
0480
IF GUESS*=COLOR* THEN
0490
PRINT "HURRAY, YOU WIN."
0500
PRINT "YOU HAVE STAKED ", STAKE,"
PENCE,"
0510
PRINT "SO YOU GET ",STAKE*FACTOR,
" PENCE."
0520
ELSE
0530
PRINT "SORRY, YOU HAVE LOST ", STAKE," PENCE."
0540
PRINT "BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME."
0550
END IF
0560
INPUT "PLAY AGAIN (Y/N)? ": ANSW*
0570
HALT:=ANSW*="N"
0580
ENDPROC RESULT
0590
//
0600
//END OF PROGRAM: WHEEL//
0610
//WRITTEN IN CBM COMAL-80//
0620
//BY BORGE R. CHRISTENSEN//
0630
//FOR PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD//
0640
//JULY 2, 1981//
78 PCW
improved, and in 1979 I defined a new
version of COMAL — COMAL-80 —
which was finally further improved by
a working group of academics and
representatives of several manufacturers
of microcomputers. In 1980 COMAL-80
was fully implemented by Commo¬
dore to run on the 4032 and 8032
microcomputers. This task was under¬
taken by Mogens Kjaer, Copenhagen,
Denmark. Mogens Kjaer wrote the
whole thing for Commodore in about
four months, and even though he is a
very talented programmer, you can see
that the task of turning Basic into a
useful modern language is not an
impossible venture. In what follows I
shall survey the major features of
COMAL-80, and I am quite confident
that Jonathan Palmer and like-minded
persons will fully approve of what they
come to see. The sample program I
shall refer to is in no way sensational,
but it demonstrates the most important
facilities of COMAL-80 quite well.
Please refer to the program listing while
reading the following (list on page 78).
Sample program
In lines 10, 20 and 110 long identi¬
fier names are demonstrated. In
COMAL-80 a variable name may hold
up to 16 characters, all of which are
significant. The first character must be
a letter, the following may be letters
or digits. Most versions of COMAL-80
also allow an extra character to be
introduced in an identifier name, such
as the underscore or the quote. In
CBM COMAL-80 the quote may be
part of a name, eg, NUMBER ‘OF’
ITEMS is a legal identifier name.
The IF...ELSE...ENDIF branching is
displayed in line 480-550. In the IF
statement the keyword IF is as usual
followed by a Boolean expression. If
this expression is evaluated to TRUE
the block of statements between the
IF statement and the ELSE statement
is executed, whereas if it returns a value
of FALSE the block of statements
between ELSE and ENDIF is pro¬
cessed. Sequential processing is then
resumed with the statement following
the ENDIF statement. Program struc¬
tures of all types may be nested to any
depth in COMAL-80.
The REPEAT..UNTIL loop is used
in line 40-80. Notice that the Boolean
variable (the flag) HALT is assigned a
truth value in line 570. The difference
between the assignment token (:=)
and the relational operator (=) is clearly
demonstrated in that line. This is the
one point where I do not agree with
Jonathan Palmer. It is very important
to teach beginners to distinguish
between the assignment instruction
and a relational operator. The assign¬
ment contained in line 570 may,
however, be entered thus:
HALT=ANSW$=“N”
or even:
LET HALT =ANSW$=“N”
The COMAL-80 interpreter automati¬
cally converts either of the two strings
into the one displayed in the program
list.
WHILE..ENDWHILE loops are
demonstrated in line 320-360 and
390440. The IN operator in the
Boolean expression following WHILE
in line 3^0 returns a value of TRUE
if the firs! operand is a substring of the
second operand; otherwise it outputs
a value of FALSE. This is the closest
we can come to sets in COMAL-80.
Procedures (subroutines) are named
in COMAL. As is seen from line 100 a
procedure head consists of the keyword
PROC followed by the name of the
procedure. The block of statements
that constitute the body of the pro¬
cedure is executed only if it is called
by means of an EXEC (EXECute)
statement. Three such statements are
found in line 50-70. If you happen
to stumble over a procedure during
simple sequential processing it is
skipped. Though it is not demonstrated
in the program, the call of procedures
in COMAL-80 allows passing of para¬
meters called by value as well as called
by reference. GOSUB “linenumber”
should not be used in COMAL; you
never know what is going on when
you have nothing but an anonymous
linenumber to look at. There is no
doubt that GOTO “linenumber” and
GOSUB “linenumber” are the two most
foolish control statements that were
ever invented. I am sure they will
remain a disgrace to the history of
computer science long after Basic
has been consigned to Limbo.
A multi-branching structure is found
in line 120-250. If the value of the
expression following the CASE key¬
word matches the value of one of the
expressions lined up after a WHEN
keyword, the block of statements
following that WHEN statement is
executed. When the block is finished,
sequential processing is resumed with
the statement following the END-
CASE statement. The keyword OTHER¬
WISE may be used to initiate a default
case which is then inserted immediately
before the terminating ENDCASE
statement.
The indentations to indicate the
blocks of statements are of course
done automatically by the system on
the listing.
COMAL—80 also includes a very
simple yet versatile file handling system,
offering loading, saving and merging of
programs and sequential as well as
random access files.
Linking the
structures
As a CBM COMAL-80 program is
typed in it is, as mentioned before,
syntactically analysed. If accepted by
the scanner it is not just stored but
converted into reverse polish notation.
The prerun links the structures of
the program, such that, for example,
a WHILE statement contains the ad¬
dress of its ENDWHILE statement
and vice versa, and an EXEC statement
knows where to find the procedure
it is calling. This means that a long
COMAL program is processed much
faster than the equivalent Basic pro¬
gram. All identifiers are converted
into tokens internally, such that they
occur only once in the storage. A
rather nasty program has been written
that will erase the symbol table (which
is only used in the listing) from a pro¬
gram. The reader can guess what
happens when an unauthorised person
tries to list such a program!
After having used COMAL for more
than six years now I can confirm that
it is a good idea to implement a struc¬
tured Basic. But if you do so, you must
ensure the generality of the structures.
We took our structures from Pascal,
because we realised that better ones
would hardly be designed for the next
500 years. In the meantime,
Pascal has become very popular, and
it is easy for one of our students who
chooses to become a professional
programmer to learn to use Pascal.
Not long ago I got a paper called “BBC
Basic” from a friend of mine in
England. It describes one of the most
pathetic attempts to extend Basic that
I have ever seen. If that incoherent
jumble is what BBC plans to use to
bring the English into the Com¬
puter Age I sincerely hope you will
be able to pump oil out of the North
Sea for many, many years to come!
You can get more detailed infor¬
mation about CBM COMAL—80 by
contacting Nick Green at Commo¬
dore’s headquarters in Slough. A very
good paper entitled “COMAL 80 —
adding structure to Basic” has been
written by Max Bramer at the Open
University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes,
MK7 6AA (CAL Research Group
Technical Report No. 3). COMAL-80
has been implemented on some Danish
built microcomputer systems too. In¬
formation about one of them, the RC
PICCOLO, may be obtained from
Roy Atherton, Bulmershe College,
Woodlands Ave, Reading RG6 1HY.
PCW 79
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PCW 80
CONTROL YOUR OWN
S UBSTATION I
D E Graham describes further ways in which your ZX80/81 can control things in the outside world.
Audio output
Sound output from the ZX80 and
ZX81 can be achieved in a variety of
different ways with the 80/81 port
board. The simplest, using a solid state
buzzer, was dealt with briefly last
month. Here we will have a look at two
methods which allow a variable fre¬
quency note to be output to a loud¬
speaker. This is most simply achieved
by connecting a fairly high impedance
loudspeaker — a 65 ohm 2in variety
was used in the prototype — directly to
channel zero of the output port (see
Figure 1). A succession of zeros and
ones can then be POKEd to the port
to produce an audio tone of quite good
volume. The following programs achieve
this:
10 REM ZX80 AUDIO
20 FOR A = 1 TO 100
30 POKE 25000, 1
40 POKE 25000,0
50 NEXT A
10 REM ZX81 AUDIO
15 FAST
20 FOR A = 1 TO 100
30 POKE 11000, 1
40 POKE 11000,0
50 NEXT A
The duration of the tone is deter¬
mined by the length of the FOR loop in
line 20 and its frequency by the time
the ZX takes to execute each cycle of
the loop. This is limited by the speed of
the Basic interpreter to a couple of
hundred hertz or so; while the bleep
produced is useful as an audio cue, it is
no use in more sophisticated appli¬
cations. To extend the attainable fre¬
quency range, it is necessary to resort to
a machine code subroutine which may
be accessed from Basic with a USR call.
Full range audio
Reproduced below is an assembler
listing of a 27-byte machine code pro¬
gram that may be used on the ZX80 or
81 to produce audio outputs over the
frequency range 200 Hz to 25 kHz. It
makes use of a number of counting
loops, set up on registers B, C, and D
of the ZX80 to achieve an audio output
of a duration which is independent of
note frequency. The differences
between the implementation on the
ZX80 and 81 lie mainly in where the
program is to be stored within the lk
available memory.
The problem of storage is most
easily resolved on the 81, and we will
deal with this First. The method chosen
is to store the code within a REM
statement on program line 1. This has
the dual advantage that it may be
stored on tape with a normal SAVE
command and that it is not shifted
around by the ZX81’s extremely busy
operating system.
1 REM AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
AAAAAAAAAAAAA
10 FOR A=16515 TO 16541
20 PRINT A; “
30 INPUT B
40 PRINT B
50 POKE A,B
60 NEXT A
To Fill the REM statement with the
appropriate code, the program below
may be used. This sets up the REM
statement on line one, and allocates
sufficient space for it, and then allows
it to be Filled with data received from a
looped INPUT statement. The 27 bytes
of data to be entered are as follows:
62, 0, 14, 100, 5,194, 143, 64,13, 202,
157, 64, 21,194, 135, 64, 22, 255, 238,
1, 50, 0, 42, 195, 135, 64, 201. When
the program stops because the screen
has filled, execute CONT and continue. If
you list the program after it has been
run, you should Find that the contents
of the REM statement in line 1 have
taken on a peculiar aspect.
It might be as well to test the audio
routine at this stage. This may be
achieved by plugging in the loudspeaker
(wired as in Figure 1), and executing
LET X = USR 16515. A bleep of about
V 2 sec duration should be heard. If not,
check the contents of the 27 locations
from 16515 to 16541 using the PEEK
function to verify that you have entered
all the data correctly. When all is func¬
tioning well, erase all of the program
lines but the First, by entering empty
line numbers. What remains is the
single REM statement containing the
audio subroutine. This should now be
saved to tape, and may be reloaded
and incorporated in any programs
that you wish. Before treating applicat¬
ions of the routine, we will look at how
it may be loaded on the ZX80.
It is unfortunately not possible to
store the machine code audio routine in
a REM statement on the ZX80, because
the machine’s interpreter actually
checks the contents of REM statements
for an end-of-line character, and will
unceremoniously hang up when it Finds
certain unexpected data there. One way
around this is to store the program in a
section of memory somewhere below
the stack, beginning at 17000. The data
is not automatically saved to tape, but
even this can be easily circumvented.
Below is a program in Basic which
contains the audio subroutine, and
which loads it into memory when
RUN is executed:
10 REM ZX80 MACHINE CODE
AUDIO
20 LET A$ = “3E000E6405C-
2744200CA824215C26C4216FFE-
E01320060C36C42C9”
30 FOR C = 1 TO 27
40 LET B = CODE (AS)-28
50 LET B = B*16
60 LET AS « TLS(AS)
70 LET B = B + CODE(AS) - 28
80 LET AS = TL$(A$)
90 POKE (16999 + C), B
100 NEXT C
Line 20 contains the hex code for the
27 bytes of machine code, and the re¬
mainder of the program reads off pairs
;Z80 AUDIO SUBROUTINE
LD
A,0
LD
C, 100
DURATION
STT:
DEC
B
JP
NZ,ONE
DEC
C
JP
Z,OUT
ONE:
DEC
D
JP
NZ,STT
LD
D,255
FREQUENCY
X0R
1
LD
(PORT),A
TORT = 25000 FOR ZX80
JP
STT
;PORT = 11000 FOR ZX81
OUT:
RET
W0
WRITE
edge of board
Fig I Connecting a loudspeaker to the output port
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CONTROL YOUR OWN
S UBSTATION »
of these from left to right, converts
them to decimal, and POKEs them to
the appropriate locations, ie, 17000
onwards.
Once the program has been run, it
may be tested by executing LET Z =
USR (17000). This should again pro¬
duce a bleep on the loudspeaker. If
all is well the program should be saved
in its entirety, and may be incorporated
into any programs requiring audio
output.
Using the
audio generator
Both the frequency and duration of
audio output from the generator
program may be varied by using two
POKE commands before executing the
USR call. On the ZX80, the two
locations are 17003 and 17017 for
duration and frequency respectively,
while for the ’81 the locations are 16518
and 16532. Any integer between 1 and
255 may be POKEd to these addresses,
with low numbers producing short
durations or high frequencies. The test
program below allows both durations
and frequencies to be entered using
INPUT statements before making the
USR call.
150 PRINT “DURATION 1-255”
160 INPUT D
170 PRINT “FREQUENCY 1-255” Variations for the ZX81:
180 INPUT F
190 CLS
200 POKE 17003, D POKE 16518,D
210 POKE 17017,F POKE 16532,F
220 LET X = USR (17000) LET X - USR 16515
230 GO TO 150
The machine code audio subroutine
offers one further facility. As things
stand, once the USR call has been made,
the signal levels on channels 1-7 of the
ouput port will all be reset to zero. This
is obviously inconvenient if they are
being used simultaneously for some
other purpose. To get around this
problem, a POKE command may be
executed to address 17001 for the
ZX80 or 16516 for the ZX81 just be¬
fore executing the USR call. The data
POKEd in this command should be the
same as the last data POKEd to the
output port. Thus, suppose a program
were required to turn on a relay on
channel two of the output port by
POKEing the value 4 to the port, and at
the same time needed to access the audio
routine, POKEing 17001 or 16516
with the value 4 would ensure that
when the USR call was made it would
leave the relay in the ON position.
Sound effects
A wide range of sound effects may be
produced using the audio subroutine
and these may be used to add life to
games and more serious programs. Here
are one or two examples of effects
produced by rapidly varying the output
frequency using a series of FOR loops
to create noises of the kind that Invader
machines are fond of producing.
500 REM ZX80 SOUND EFFECTS
510 PRINT “DURATION 3-255”
520 INPUT D
530 CLS
540 POKE 17003,D
550 FOR A = 1 TO 10
560 POKE 17017,(255/A)
570 LET X = USR( 17000)
580 NEXT A
590 GO TO 550
500 REM ZX81 SOUND EFFECTS
510 PRINT “DURATION 3-255”
520 INPUT D
530 CLS
540 POKE 16518,D
550 FOR A = 1 TO 10
560 POKE 16532, INT (255/A)
570 LET X = USR 16515
580 NEXT A
590 GO TO 550
These program lines should of course
be entered on top of the relevant audio
generating subroutines described above.
To halt sound output press the BREAK
key, though in real applications a further
FOR loop may be inserted to exit the
routine when required. The sound
effect produced by the above routines
may be altered considerably by chang¬
ing line 550 to: FOR A = 10 TO 1 STEP
—1. Also, inserting the two lines:
573 POKE 17017,255
575 LET X = USR( 17000)
573 POKE 16532,255
575 LET X = USR 16515
will also change the sound produced.
Random ‘music’
The following short routines, which
again access the machine code audio
subroutine, allow the ZX to play an
infinite (though repeating) series of
notes chosen randomly using its RND
function. The RANDOMISE function
might additionally be incorporated at
some point, though this will not greatly
increase the probability that the
machine will hit upon Beethoven’s
Ninth, given long enough.
500 REM ZX80 RANDOM PLAYER
510 POKE 17003,100
520 POKE 17017,(15+RND(240))
530 LET X = USR( 17000)
540 GO TO 520
500 REM ZX81 RANDOM PLAYER
510 POKE 16518,100
520 POKE 16532,(240*RND+15)
530 LET X = USR 16515
540 GO TO 520
Keyboard organ
If you want to play tunes for yourself,
that can also be arranged, though it is a
little harder with the ZX80, since it has
no INKEYS function for detecting key¬
board presses without stopping the
program with an INPUT statement.
Here firstly is the ZX81 version:
199 REM ZX81 ORGAN-USES M/C
ROUTINE IN REM
200 IF INKEYS < >“ “ THEN
GOTO 200
205 LET Q$ = INKEYS
207 IF Q$ = THEN GO TO 205
210 LET W = VAL Q$
215 IF W = 0 THEN GO TO 300
220 POKE 16532, INT(255/W)
230 LET X = USR 16515
240 GO TO 205
300 PRINT “ENTER NEW PERIOD
310 INPUT Z
320 IF Z < 1 OR Z > 255 THEN GO
TO 300
330 POKE 16518,Z
340 CLS
350 GO TO 200
Keyboard numbers 1—9 play nine
different notes and, if zero is pressed,
the playing routine is exited so that the
note duration may be altered. Values of
about 100 give good results, with lower
values producing a tremolo effect.
To implement the organ on the
ZX80, a machine code patch could be
used to implement the INKEYS funct¬
ion, but here we will use a set of push
buttons connected to the lowest four
channels of the input port (R0-R3)
using the circuit of Figure 9 of last
month. The program below can play up
to 15 different notes with this arrange¬
ment, depending on which combination
of the four buttons are pressed. There
is at present no facility for altering the
duration of the note, but this may be
easily added in such a way that pressing
a button on say channel four initiates
an appropriate INPUT routine.
140 REM ZX80 PUSH BUTTON
ORGAN
145 REM USE WITH M/C ROUTINE
150 LET A = PEEK(25000)
160 IF A = 0 THEN GO TO 150
170 POKE 17017, (15 + A*15)
180 LET X - USR( 17000)
190 GO TO 150
Some interesting effects can be
obtained using the program with LDR
photo-resistors substituted for the push
buttons, as in Figure 12 last month.
This arrangement transforms visual
patterns into audio tones.
Hardwired audio
An alternative way to produce audio
output from the ZX is to use a separate
audio generator IC such as the NE555,
which costs only 20p. The advantage of
this approach is that, since the audio is
actually generated by the NE555 and
not by the microprocessor chip itself,
the ZX can get on with other things
during sound output. This means that
with the ZX81 in the slow mode, for
example, TV output may continue dur¬
ing the production of sounds. Figure 2
shows the circuit for such a generator.
As may be seen, it occupies four of the
80/81 board’s output channels to
achieve a repertoire of eight notes.
In fact, channels 0, 1 and 2 actually
control the frequency generated, while
channel 3 decides whether the output is
on or off. Output is enabled when
channel 3 is high, so that data in the
range 8 to 15 produces audio output.
To alter the range of frequencies pro¬
duced, C may be changed. Larger values
give a lower frequency, and vice versa.
To produce audio with the generator,
simply POKE a value between 8 and 15
to the output port (25000 on the ’80,
11000 on the ’81). To stop the flow of
sound, POKE 0 to the port.
As suggested above, one advantage
of the hardwired audio approach is
that (at the cost of an extra three out¬
put channels) audio can be output
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CONTROL YOUR OWN
S UBSTATION »
when the ZX is occupied elsewhere. In
the case of the ZX81, sound effects
can be produced under Basic control,
while the ZX maintains the screen
display. The program below illustrates
this.
10 REM ZX81 HARDWIRED AUDIO
EFFECT
20 SLOW
30 PRINT “SIMULTANEOUS AUDIO
AND SCREEN SUPPORT”
40 FOR A = 1 TO 8
50 FOR B = 8 TO 16
60 POKE 110003
70 NEXT B
80 NEXT A
Of course, faster changing audio effects
can be produced in the FAST mode,
but screen support will be lost in
the process.
Polling a keypad
The 80/81 port board provides eight
input and eight output channels which
will be sufficient for many applications.
If more are required for a particular
task, it is often possible to increase the
effective number of channels by using a
few hardware tricks.
The so-called polled keyboard is a
case in point. Last month the use of an
8-button keypad was discussed. This
employs one push button on each of the
eight input channels. It is possible,
however, to economise on this set-up by
using a polling technique. Suppose that
a hex keypad (containing 16 switches) is
to be used for data input at the 80/81
port, and on top of this we want to
leave four of the eight input channels
free for other devices. The circuit of
Figure 3 achieves this.
It does so by grouping the 16
switches into four rows by four columns
(and in fact hex keypads are often
manufactured prewired in this way).
The individual columns are connected
to the lowest four bits of the input port
(R0—R3), while the four rows are each
Fig 2 Hardwired audio generator. For
accurate conversion , R1 , R2 & R3
should be 4k 1% and R4 & R5 should
be 2k 1%.
connected to one bit of the output port
(W0—W3). A short software routine
may then be used to read the state of
the keys. This operates by polling the
keyboard row by row. To poll the top
row, a high output is set up on row one
by POKEing the value 1 to the output
port. The input port is then PEEKed to
see whether any of R0—R3 are in a high
state. If so, it means that the correspond¬
ing button on the top row has been
pressed. Next W1 can be made high, and
the input port re-read to test the state
of the keys in the second row, and so
on. The principle used here is very
commonly employed in microcomputer
systems, and is in fact used on the key¬
boards of the ZX80 and 81; although of
course in such cases the polling is
executed by the computer’s machine
code operating system, rather than in
Basic, which would prove somewhat
slow for rapid key response.
65A
Fig 3 software polled Hex Keypad. D = IN914 or similar.
WO = channel 0 of output port = pin 1 of WRITE plug etc.
RO = channel 0 of input port = pin 1 of READ plug etc.
Connect the ground on each resistor to pin 9 of the READ plug.
Fig 4 Connections for auto-timer.
Diode is type IN914 or similar, relay
is Omron type LZNZ 03 6 volt.
Auto-timer
Since the output port on the 80/81
board is capable of supporting both
relay and audio output at the same
time, it is possible to implement a
chiming timer. In the simplest case, a
program to accomplish this might
request a time duration to be input and
when the given time has elapsed it could
switch on or off any desired device
connected to a relay on the output port.
It might at the same time count off the
seconds with an audible bleep. The pro¬
gram below achieves this when used in
conjunction with the circuit of Figure
4. The loudspeaker is connected to
channel zero of the output port, and
the relay switching the device to be
timed is driven from channel one using
the on-board buffer amplifier. The
program first requests a time delay in
seconds (though a small software
change would allow it to cope with
minutes or even hours). It then switches
on the relay and begins counting.
10 REM ZX80 TIMER/CONTROLLER
20 POKE 25000,0
30 PRINT,“ZX80 TIMER”
40 PRINT ‘TIME IN SECS?”
50 INPUT C
60 LET B = 1
70 POKE 25000,2
100 FOR A = 1 TO 440
110 NEXT A
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CONTROL YOUR OWN
S UBSTATION 1
130 IF B = C THEN GO TO 400
140 GO SUB 300
150 LET B = B + 1
160 GO TO 100
300 FOR D = 1 TO 10
310 POKE 25000,3
320 POKE 25000,2
330 NEXT D
340 RETURN
400 FOR E = 1 TO 100
410 POKE 25000,1
420 POKE 25000,0
430 NEXT E
440 GO TO 50
Timing is carried out using the loop
at line 100 which may be adjusted in
length to achieve an accuracy of about
one part in 400. Every second a short
bleep is produced on the loudspeaker
(using a Basic routine rather than
machine code). And after the pre¬
determined delay the relay is switched
off and a one-second bleep is produced
to signal this. To run the program on
the ZX81, change all 25000s to 11000
and use the FAST mode. Some correct¬
ion will also be required to the length of
the FOR loop in line 100 since the
ZX81’s Basic runs slower than that of
the ’80. Although this example has been
kept fairly simple, one could envisage
much more complex timers being imp¬
lemented using similar techniques.
These might, for example, use a number
of relays to control a series of different
devices at different times.
Logic analyser
When checking digital circuits, or even
when trying to follow the operation of
a particular IC, it is very useful to be
able to test logic states at any point.
That is to say, to test whether any
point in the circuit is at a logical high
or low. The logic tester to be described
here does this and more. It allows the
simultaneous monitoring of the logic
states of up to eight separate points and
also allows the results to be printed on
to the screen. In this respect it will
also prove useful in testing the states
of switches, pushbuttons, and photo¬
cells used in experiments described in
these articles.
The circuit for the analyser is given
in Figure 5. As may be seen, it is
extremely simple, requiring only nine
pieces of wire and, for the deluxe
version, nine crocodile clips or similar.
The program for running it on the ZX80
is given below. For the ZX81 just alter
all 25000s to 11000.
100 REM ZX80 LOGIC ANALYSER
110 PRINT TAB 4; “CHAN:”;TAB 10
120 FOR A = 0 TO 7
130 PRINT 7—A;“
140 NEXT A
150 PRINT
160 INPUT Z
170 LET X = PEEK (25000)
180 PRINT TAB 5; X; TAB 10;
190 FOR L = 0TO7
195 LET Y = 7-L
200 LET P = 0
210 LET X = X — 2**Y
220 IF X > -1 THEN LET P = 1
230 IF X < 0 THEN LET X = X + 2**Y
240 PRINT P; “
250 NEXT L
260 PRINT
270 GOTO 160
When the program is run, each time
that NEW LINE is pressed the input port
will be read and a printout of Is and 0s
will be produced, representing the states
of the eight channels. This takes the
following form:
CHAN: 76543210
17 00010001
145 10010001
In this example, at the First test,
channels 4 and 0 were high, while in
luscom
162
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tunes or key in old favourites. Hours of enjoyment. £8.95
REVERSI (5K* + 2K gr) — trad board game, 5 levels of skill, many
options, superb version, action replay. £5.95
HI-STATS (5K + 6K gr + fl. pt.) — Statistical analysis & graphical
rep. of file of input values. £7.95
DEMON DUNGEON (5K*) — Find the treasure, the way out &
escape the demons. £6.95
SKETCH PAD (3K*) Draw in black on white & vice versa. Many
options incl choice of gr. modes & save & recover routines. £5.95
DISASSEMBLER (3K*) - Lists object code & assembler
mnemonics. £6.95
DAMBUSTERS (3K* + 2K gr) - Realistic bombing raids, bouncing
bombs etc. £4.95
ZOMBIES (Real Time) + DEMOVADERS + LASER FIGHT (3K*)
£6.95
LABYRINTH + SLOT RACER (5K* + 6K gr) £6.95
MINEFIELD + SNAKE + AWARI (2K*) £5 95
TERRITORY + AZTEC (3K* + 2K gr) £5.95
EXTRA MEMORY 2 x 2114 Low power chips.£3.75
WRITTEN ANY PROGRAMS? - WE PAY 20%
ROYALTIES!
Please add 55p/order P&P
+ VAT @ 15%.
Send Sae for catalogue.
PROGRAM POWER
5 Wensley Road,
Leeds LS7 2LX.
Tel (0532) 683186
PCW 87
Mail Order Software
for most CP/M systems-a selection of products
from the world's leading microsoftware supplier
Software
with
Manual
/
Manual
Alone
Software /
with / Manual
Manual / Alone
Software
with
Manual
/
Manual
Alone
DIGITAL RESEARCH
□ CP/M* FDOS Diskette Operating System complete with
© Text Editor Assembler Debugger File Manager and system
utilities. Available for wide variety of disk systems from £75/£15
□ CP/M for Apple 11* Softcard with Z80 Microsoft BASIC 80
with high resolution graphics £250/£15
□ MP/M for Intel MDS single density £195/£25
□ MAC 8080 Macro Assembler. Full Intel macro definitions.
Pseudo Ops include RPC, IRP, REPT, TITLE, PAGE, and
MACLIB Z-80 library included. Produces Intel absolute hex
output plus symbols file for use by SID (see below) £55/£10
□ SID 8080 symbolic debugger. Full trace, pass count and
break point program testing system with back trace and
histogram utilities. When used with MAC, provides full symbolic
display of memory labels and equated values £45/£10
□ ZSID Includes Z80 mnemonics, requires Z80 CPU £50/£10
□ TEX - Text formatter to create paginated, page-numbered and
justified copy from source text files, directable to disk or printer
. £45/£10
□ DESPOOL Program to permit simultaneous printing of data
from disk while user executes another program from the console
£30/£1
BSTAM Utility to link one computer to another also equipped
© with BSTAM. Allows file transfers at full data speed (no
conversion to hex), with CRC block control check for very
reliable error detection and automatic retry. We use it! It's great 1
Full wildcard expansions to send '.COM, etc. 9600 baud with
wire, 300 baud with phone connection Both ends need one.
Standard and M versions can talk to one another £75/£5
□ BSTMS - Intelligent terminal program for CP/M systems.
© Permits communication between micros and mainframes.
Sends character data files to remote computers under complete
control. System can record character data sent from remote
computer systems and data banks. Includes programs to
EXPAND and COMPRESS binary files for transmission. This
software requires a knowledge of assembler language for
installation.£115/£10
□ PLINK* - Two pass disk-to-disk linkage editor /loader which
© can produce re-entrant. ROMable code. Can link programs that
are larger than available memory for execution targeted on
another machine. Full library capabilities Input can be PSA
Relocatable Binary Module. TDL Object Module or Microsoft
REL files Output can be a COM file, Intel hex file, TDL Object
Module or PSA Relocatable file.£75/£15
□ RECLAIM A utility to validate media under CP/M. Program
tests a diskette or hard diskette or hard disk surface for errors,
reserving the imperfections in invisible files, and permitting
continued usage of the remainder. Essential for any hard disk
Requires CP/M version 2. £40/£5
□ IBM/CPM Utility Package has full range of functions to
create or re-name an IBM 3741 volume, display directory
information and edit the data set contents. Provides full file
transfer facilities between 3741 volume data sets and CP/M files
. £125/£7
i Z80 Development Package Consists of (1) disk file line
© editor, with global inter and intra-line facilities; (2) Z80 relocating
assembler, Zilog Mostek mnemonics, conditional assembly and
cross reference table capabilities; (3) linking loader producing
absolute Intel hex disk file for CP/M LOAD, DDT or SID
facilities _ £50/£12
ZDT — Z80 Debugger to trace, break and examine registers
© with standard Zilog/Mostek mnemonic disassembly displays.
Facilities similar to DDT £20 when ordered with Z80
Development Package . £30/£7
MICROSOFT
BASIC 80 - Disk Extended BASIC Interpreter Version 5, ANSI
© compatible with long variable names, WHILE/WEND, chaining.
© variable length file records £155/£15
□ BASIC Compiler Language compatible with Version 5
© Microsoft interpreter and 3-10 times faster execution Produces
standard Microsoft relocatable binary output. Includes
© Macro-80 Also linkable to FORTRAN-80 or COBOL-80 code
modules £195/£15
□ FORTRAN 80 ANSI '66 (except for COMPLEX) plus many
© extensions. Includes relocatable object compiler, linking loader,
library with manager Also includes MACRO-80 (see below)
© . £205/£15
□ COBOL 80 ANSI '74 Relocatable object output Format
© same as FORTRAN 80 and MACRO 80 modules Complete
ISAM Interactive ACCEPT DISPLAY, COPY. EXTEND
© £325/£15
MACRO 80 8080 Z80 Macro Assembler. Intel and Zilog
© mnemonics supported. Relocatable linkable output Loader,
Library Manager and Cross Reference List utilities included
© £75/£10
SOFTWARE SYSTEMS
□ CBASIC-2 Disk Extended BASIC Non-interactive BASIC
© with pseudo code compiler and runtime interpreter. Supports
full file control, chaining, integer and extended precision
variables etc. £75/£10
MICROPRO
□ SUPER SORT 1 Sort, merge, extract utility as absolute
© executable program or linkable module in Microsoft format.
Sorts fixed or variable records with data in binary, BCD, Packed
Decimal, EBCDIC, ASCII, floating, fixed point, exponential,
field justified, etc. etc. Even variable number of fields per record!
£125/£15
□ WORD MASTER Text Editor In one mode has super set of
© CP/M's ED commands including global searching and
replacing, forward and backwards in file. In video-mode,
provides full screen editor for users with serial addressable
cursor terminal £75/£15
□ WORD STAR Menu driven visual word processing system
© for use with standard terminals. Text formatting performed on
screen. Facilities for text paginate, page number, justify, center,
underscore and PRINT. Edit facilities include global search and
replace, read/write to other text files, block move, etc. Requires
CRT terminal with addressable cursor positioning £255/£15
□ WORD STAR/MAIL MERGE As above with option for
© production mailing of personalised documents with mail list from
© Datastar or NAD £315/£15
□ DATASTAR Professional forms control entry and display
© system for key-to-disk data capture. Menu driven with built-in
© learning aids. Input field verification by length, mask, attribute
(i.e. uppercase, lowercase, numeric, auto dup., etc ). Built-in
arithmetic capabilities using keyed data, constants and derived
values. Visual feedback for ease of forms design Files
compatible with all CP/M MP M supported languages
Requires 32K CP/M £195/£25
□ PASCAL/M - Compiler generates P code from extended
language implementation of standard PASCAL. Supports
overlay structure through additional procedure calls and the
SEGMENT procedure type. Provides convenient string handling
capability with the added variable type STRING. Untyped files
allow memory image I/O. Requires 56K CP/M £95/£20
□ PASCAL IZ Z80 native code PASCAL compiler. Produces
optimised portable reentrant code. All interfacing to CP/M is
through the support library. The package includes compiler
companion macro assembler and source for the library. Requires
56K and Z80 CPU. Version 3 includes all of Jensen/Wirth
. £205/f 15
□ PASCAL/MT - Subset of standard PASCAL Generates
© ROMable 8080 machine code. Symbolic debugger included
Supports interrupt procedures, CP/M file I/O and assembly
language interface. Real variables can be BCD, software floating
point, or AMD 9511 hardware floating point. Version 3 includes
Sets, Enumeration and Record data types. Manual explains
BASIC to PASCAL conversion. Source for the run time package
requires MAC (See under Digital Research). Requires 32K
.. £135/£20
□ WHITESMITHS' C COMPILER - The ultimate in systems
© software tools. Produces faster code than Pascal with more
extensive facilities. Conforms to the full UNIX Version 7 C
language, described by Kernighan and Ritchie, and makes
available over 75 functions for performing I/O, string
manipulation and storage allocation. Compiler output in
A Natural source. Supplied with A-Natural. Requires 60K CP M
£325/£20
□ MAGSAM III - Sophisticated keyed access file support
© system. Supports random, sequential, and generic retrieval by
key. Also, multiple secondary keys. Dynamic allocation and
extension of files with automatic free space reclamation
Interactive tutorial included to get the user started. Complete
with documentation and quick reference card. Specify CBASIC
or Microsoft BASIC version. Requires 48K system £75/£15
□ MAGSAM IV High speed machine code version of
© MAGSAM III for CBASIC only. Distributed as pre-loaded mod
ules and Microsoft relocatable object modules £185/£15
□ CBS - Configurable Business System is a comprehensive set
© of programmes for defining custom data files and application
systems without using programming language such as BASIC,
FORTRAN, etc. Multiple key fields for each data file are
supported. Set-up program customizes system to user's CRT
and printer. Provides fast and easy interactive data entry and
retrieval with transaction processing. Report generator
program does complex calculations with stored and derived
«lata, record selection with multiple criteria, and custom
formats. Sample inventory and mailing list system included No
support language required £185/£20
□ MAGIC WAND* Word processing system with simple, easy
to use full screen text editor and powerful print processor. Editor
has all standard editing functions including text insert and
delete, global search and replace, block move and library files
for boiler plate text. Print processor formating commands
include automatic margins, pagination, heading Et footings,
centred and justified text. Also prints with true proportional
spacing, merges with data files for automatic form letters, and
performs run-time conditional testing for varied output.
Requires 32K CP/M and CRT terminal with addressable cursor.
. £185/£20
□ T/MAKER Powerful new tool for preparing management
reports with tabular data. Makes financial modeling projects
easy. Do you want a weekly profitability report? Set up the table
and compute. Just change the sales figures for next week and
compute You have a new report! T/MAKER includes a full
screen editor for setting up tables which pages left, right, up
and down. Compute includes standard arithmetic, percents,
exponents, common transcedental functions, averages,
maxima, minima, projections, etc. Requires 48K CP/M and
CBASIC 2. £155/£15
□ SELECTOR III C2 Data Base Processor to create and
© maintain multi Key data bases. Prints formatted, sorted reports
with numerical summaries or mailing labels. Comes with sample
applications including Sales Activity, Inventory, Payables,
Receivables, Check Register, and Client/Patient Appointments ,
etc. Requires CBASIC Version 2. Supplied in source code.
£ 185/Cl 2
AND MANY OTHERS
Call us for:
A complete catalogue
Further details of products
Information on new products
Ordering information
Disc format list
© Modified version available for use with CP M as implemented on Heath
and TRS-80 Model 1 computers
© User license agreement for this product must be signed and returned to
Lifeboat Associates before shipment may be made
EFFECTIVE JUNE 1981
The Software Supermarket
is a trademark of
Lifeboat Associates
•CP M is a trademark of Digital Research
‘*Z80 is a trademark of Zilog Inc
UNIX is a trademark of Bell Laborities
T rs 80 is a trademark of Tandy Corp
Pascal M is a trademark of Sorcim
PLINK is a trademark of Phoenix Software Associates Ltd
MAGIC WAND is a trademark of Small Business Application Inc
Lifeboat Associates
P.O.Box 125 London WC2H9LU 01-836 9028/9
PCW 88
CONTROL YOUR OWKI
SUBSTATION!
the second, 7, 4 and 0 were high. The
decimal equivalent of the combined
input is also printed out — 17 and
145 respectively.
The FOR loop in this program, run¬
ning from line 190 to 260, performs the
task of actually identifying which of
the input channels are high and which
low and of producing a series of Is and
Os accordingly.
In many applications of the input
port it is useful to be able to treat each
channel as a separate entity and to be
able to take action on the basis of the
state of any given channel irrespective
of the state of the remainder. Below is
a generalised routine which permits
this.
100 REM ZX80 INPUT SEPARATOR
ROUTINE
110 DIM D(8)
120 LET D = PEEK (25000)
[use 11000 for the ‘81]
130 FOR E = 0 TO 7
135 LET F = 7-E
140 LET D(F + 1) = 0
150 LET D = D —2**F
160 IF D > -1 THEN LET D(F+1)
= 1
170 IF D < 0 THEN LET D = D + 2**F
180 NEXT E
An array D(n) is First set up and the
input port is PEEKed. The routine then
sets each of the eight array variables to
1 if the corresponding channel of the
port is high and to 0 if it is not. The
resultant data for channel 7 is held
in D(8), channel 6 in D(7) and so on.
Thus to discover the state of channel 4
of the input port irrespective of the
states of the other channels, execute
the above program followed by a test
for the value of D(3). If D(3) = 0,
channel 3 was low. If it is = 1, then it
was high.
Burglar alarms and
train controllers
The provision of eight input and eight
output channels on the ZX port is
sufficient to allow the ZX to be used as
a systems controller in a number of
different applications. The essential
feature of such a control system is the
collection of data from a variety of
sensors and, after due processing, the
control of a number of devices in
response. A burglar alarm system and
a model train controller both provide
examples of such an application and
may be implemented using the ZX port
board.
In the case of the burglar alarm,
sensors of many different kinds could
be employed — from magnetic reed
switches to detect door openings, to
photocells and pressure switches. Each
of the port’s eight input channels could
be used to monitor a group of sensors
wired together, and the ZX could be
programmed to indicate not only when
activity had been detected on a parti¬
cular group of sensors, but which group
had been activated. The input separator
routine discussed above should prove
useful in this respect. A range of re¬
sponses to detector stimulation could
easily be implemented on such a system
to initiate low-level warning lamps or
high-level alarm switching, depending
on what sequence of detectors had been
activated, and under what circumstances.
In the case of the model train layout,
the data to be input would consist
mainly of indications as to the train’s
whereabouts. This could be achieved
with a number of microswitches, or by
light-dependent resistors mounted
below the track, and facing upwards.
The passage of the train could be
arranged to obscure the photocell
sufficiently for detection to occur. The
output port could then be used to
control the direction of travel of the
train, the position of the points, and the
state of signals around the track. In a
fairly simple set-up, two relays could be
used to provide stop/start and forward/
reverse control, while each of the six
remaining output channels could
control a set of points or signals. Thus
an unextended port could support up
to eight position detectors, plus three
sets of points and three independent
signals, as well as engine control. This
would be sufficient for quite complex
train manoeuvres — especially if the
RND function on the ZXwere employed
to vary the routes taken and the stops
made. Using the ZX81 in the slow mode,
it might even be possible to run a
video timetable display, or a screen
train position indicator.
Speech synthesis
speech output.
To satisfy these conditions the ZX
port output socket may be connected
as in Figure 7. That is to say, lines W0
to W5 are connected to the Latch and
Start lines respectively. Software is then
used to place the data on the bus and
manipulate the state of the two control
lines. In fact, by cutting one or two
comers, the whole thing can be executed
in two lines of ZX Basic — as may be
seen from the following, which causes
the word ‘Three’ to be spoken:
10 POKE 25000, (3 + 128)
20 POKE 25000,(3 + 64)
(Use 11000 instead of 25000 on
the ZX81)
The first command puts the value 3 on
the speech board’s data bus and at the
same time sets the Start line high, and
the Latch line low. The second main¬
tains the value 3 on the bus and takes
Start low and Latch high, thus simul¬
taneously latching the data and initia¬
ting speech output. The program is
of course easily generalised to permit
any word from the board’s vocabulary
to be output:
10 REM SPOKEN VOCABULARY
20 PRINT “ENTER A NUMBER 0-23”
30 INPUT W
40 POKE 25000, (W + 128)
50 POKE 25000, (W + 64)
60 GO TO 20
(Use 11000 instead of 25000 for
the ZX81)
The inputs and outputs of the ZX port
are what is called TTL compatible.
This means that they may be used to
interface some of the many proprietary
devices which use this logic standard.
By way of illustration we will look at
how a speech synthesis unit may be run
from the board. The unit concerned is
produced by Modus Systems Ltd, and
has a fixed vocabulary of from 24 to 64
words. The vocabulary of the standard
version is given in Figure 6 together
with its digital value.
The Modus speech board has a six-
line data bus plus three control lines
labelled Latch, Start and Busy. To
generate speech, the unit requires the
following sequence of events to occur:
data must First be put on the board’s six
data lines to select the word required;
the Latch line must then be taken from
low to high, so as to store the data
presented; the Start line must then be
taken from high to low to initiate
The speech board provides one
further control line that has not yet
been discussed: the Busy line. This is
controlled by the speech board itself
and is used to inform the host computer
when it has Finished outputting a word.
This is a useful facility, since it avoids
the computer having to guess when
each word has been completed, during
the output of a string of words, before
data
word
data
word
0
oh
1
one
12
percent
2
two
13
low
3
three
14
over
4
four
15
root
5
five
16
em (M)
6
six
17
times
7
seven
18
point
8
eight
19
overflow
9
nine
20
minus
10
times-minus
21
plus
11
equals
22
clear
23
swap
Fig 6 Speech board vocabulary
minipack
Proof that it can be done: a ZX81 controlling a model train set.
PCW 89
Flexibility at the heart
of your system.
The RADER single board computer has been developed and tailormade to offer the user a
combination of economy by using the most up-to-date techniques of microprocessor technology coupled
with the built in facilities of ultimate expandability and flexibility.
The board is ideally suited as the basis for small to medium business machines, games
machines, industrial control machines, research and development equipment.
standard features
add on option boards
• 64K RAM
• Dual Parallel Ports
• 4MHZZ80ACPU
• Dual Serial Ports
• 51/4" or 8" Disk Interface, single/double
• Cassette Interface
/sided density
• RAM Expansion Board - Capacity 192K, in
• Z80A CTC (clock/timer/counter)
64K Increments
• DMA Controller
• External ROM Board
• Memory Mapped Video Display
• User Prototyping Board
• Memory Mapped RAM Character Generator
• Hard Disk Interface
• Programmable Video Controller
• 8 Expansion Connectors
• Real time clock with battery back-up
• Full Custom software development support available
• Sample evaluation board £350 + VAT
• CP/ M DOS available Send for complete technical specification
Rade Systems Ltd., 53-55 Ballards Lane, London N31XP
Telephone 01-349 4714 Telex 46523 Simsys G.
Dedicated Intelligence
PCW90
RO
T7
R7
WO
W7
► 5 V
► START
► BUSY
► D5
► D4
► D3
► OV
► DO
► D1
>D2
* LATCH
Fig 7 Connections between speech
board and ZX port
CONTROL YOUR OWM
SUBSTATION!
starting the next. Without this infor¬
mation the computer would either run
the longer words into each other, or leave
too long a gap between the shorter
ones.
The Busy line may be connected
directly to the input port on channel
7, as in Figure 7. In this way its state
can be monitored by PEEKing the
port before outputting the next word.
The program below uses this facility to
endlessly speak through the whole
vocabulary of the board at an even pace.
10 REM ZX81 COMPLETE VOCAB
20 REM OF SPEECH BOARD BOARD
30 LET A = 11000
40 FOR B = 0 TO 23
50 GO SUB 100
60 FOR C = 1 TO 10
70 NEXT C
80 NEXT B
90 GO TO 30
100 POKE A, (B + 128)
110 POKE A, (B + 64)
120 IF PEEK A < 128 THEN GO TO
120
130 RETURN
The Busy line is monitored in program
line 120, and the program loops here
until it is clear. The short delay in line
60 provides a small equal separation
space between each word. To imple¬
ment the program on the ZX80, change
line 30 to allocate A to 25000, and
bracket A in line 120. Of course a
speech board can be programmed to do
much more than just speak sequentially
through its vocabulary. And with the
principles illustrated here it should be
possible to program a number of
interesting applications on the ZX, from
speaking calculators and speaking clock
to spoken games’ scores.
This concludes treatment of the
ZX port, but by no means exhausts
its possible applications. If you develop
a novel working application of the port
that you think may interest readers,
then write in to the Editor giving
full details.
The ZX port kit may be obtained
from Technomatic Ltd at £11.50 +
P&P + VAT.
GET THE AMAZING VIC 20
HOME COMPUTER FOR CHRISTMAS!
from Petalect
This is one present all the family could use.
The VIC 20 is a fully Hedged computer
that simply plugs into your television
receiver and it comes at an incredibly low
price (well under £200).
It can help the children with their computer
studies, handle business and home budgeting
or you can relax and play space invaders or
one of the many video games soon to be
available. So to make sure you’re one of the
first owners of the VIC 20 fill in the coupon
below to ORDER TODAY or give us a
ring on Woking 63901.
1 would
”like to order
^ a VIC 20 Home
Computer. (Qty.)
w Name.
\ddress_
. Post Code.
^ Petalect Microcomputers.
33/35 Portugal Rd., Woking, Surrey. GU21 5JE
PETALECT
MICROCOMPUTERS
Showroom: 32 Chertsey Rd., Woking, Surrey. GU21 5BG
PCW 91
The Transdata Cx 500 family of Business and
Scientific Microcomputers features upgrade potential
from the Cx 502 single user 8” floppy disc system to
the Cx 504 multi-user hard disc system. All Cx 500
systems feature an advanced multi-processor
architecture which results in higher performance with
simple expansion.
Experienced End Users, Computer Professionals
and Distributors will value the quality, reliability and
after sales support offered with these advanced U.K.
manufactured microcomputers.
Proven Software
Wide choice of languages for CP/M and MP/M including
BASIC, FORTRAN, COBOL and APL.
Quality Commercial Accounting packages for BOS and
MBOS.
COMSPAK: Transdata’s Communications Software Package
for connecting Cx 500 Systems to most remote computers
(The modem interface is a standard feature of all
configurations).
NETWORKING: Connect Cx 500’s and share resources.
System U pg rade
The Cx 500 family offers upgrade potential with compatible
software.
Cx 500 Features & Expansion
Z80A Master Processor 4 MHz
64Kb RAM, ROM BOOTSTRAP
Four V24 Serial Interfaces
8” IBM compatible floppy disc
20 Megabytes Winchester Hard Disc
Cartridge Tape Back-up
Extended memory with bank switching
Customer Su p port
Cx 500 Systems are fully supported in the field by
Transdata’s own Field Service Division - not a third party
organisation.
Peripherals
Choose from our range of VDU’s, Printers and Paper-tape
equipment to complete your Cx 500 configuration.
Cx 500 The Complete Famil y
Dual 8” Floppy Disc System
Winchester Hard Disc System with 8” Floppy
Hard Disc System with Cartridge Tape Backup &
OEM Discounts Available.
Dealer and Distributor enquiries welcome.
Transdata’s Cx500
Microcomputer Family
Multi-user
hard disc
Single-user floppy disc
O perating Systems
SINGLE USER choose either CP/M or MicroCobol BOS
MULTI-USER choose MP/M or MBOS
Cx 500 Microcomputers -
The Problem Solvers
HjTRANSCATA LIMITED
DATA TERMINALS AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Sales and Marketing Division Telephone: 01 403 5115
Battlebridge House, 87-95 TooleyStreet. LONDON, SEI 2RA.
Please send me
more information
about your
Cx 500 Family of
Microcomputers
Name-
Company
Address —
Tel
HOW RANDOM IS
RANDOM?
Alan Sutcliffe continues his series with thoughts
on accurate randomness
Standards for randomness is, at first
sight, an odd topic for this column on
patterns. Patterns are inherently interest¬
ing: they are what we pick out from the
flux of our environment. To be random
is to be without pattern.
The early tables of random numbers
for use by statisticians were produced
by someone writing down digits ‘at
random’ until some tendency to a
pattern began to emerge, say a fondness
for 7 or too few occurrences of 0.
Then the imbalance would be restored,
the pattern destroyed. Even so, it seems
likely that there were not enough of
the freak patterns that do happen in
random sequences. After all, if you spin
a coin 1000 times it is likely that some¬
where along the way it will come up
heads nine or 10 times in succession,
without indicating any bias in the coin.
But if a coin came up heads 12 times
with no tails in such a test, would that
be significant? How about 14 times?
These are the kinds of question that
statistics was developed to answer — and
the kind of answer that can be given is
that such and such a thing should only
happen once in 20 tests, or once in
100 tests. A statistical test can never
show something beyond all possible
doubt. After all, if you deal a pack of
cards for whist, each player will get a
complete suit about once in every 2,235,
197,406395,366,368,301J560,000 times.
And every other particular distribution
is just as unlikely. Yet the cards have to
be distributed somehow, however
improbable that distribution is. If the
same combination turns up twice in the
same day (or even twice on the same
planet) you would have some grounds
for suspecting an irregularity.
Why we don’t see the outcome of
every deal of cards as an extraordinary
freak is that we don’t see the precise
and complete pattern of it — 3 and Q
of Hearts, 8 of Clubs and so on — but
abstract from it a higher level pattern,
two Hearts, one of them high, one
Club, and so on.
As for standards, that sounds like a
pretty dull subject, conjuring up images
of smoked-filled rooms of worthy
people endlessly debating this or that
detail of a feature of a language or an
interface. But that is the subject I have
chosen this month: a review of some
programs that test systems for confor¬
mity with the US National Bureau of
Standards (NBS) standard for Minimal
Basic, and a review of how my DAI
computer fared with some of these
test programs, particularly those for the
Random function.
Minimal Basic
The American National Standard for
Minimal Basic (ANSI X3.60-1978) is
just what its name suggests. It is so mini¬
mal that I cannot imagine anyone pro¬
ducing a system now which had only
the facilities stated: single letter variable
names, LET required in assignments,
lines to be input strictly in numerical
order. But the standard is not meant to
specify a complete language, rather a
common core and standards for exten¬
sions to that core. Many of the test pro¬
grams deal specifically with common
extensions and contain the following
words:
‘This is a test for a non-standard feature
of minimal Basic. To pass this test, the
processor must either:
1. Accept the program and be accom¬
panied by documentation accurately
describing the features’ interpretation
by the processor, or
2. Reject the program with an appro¬
priate error message.’
This approach, with the rest of the
philosophy adopted by the authors
of the test programs, is given in detail
in the first volume of NBS Minimal
Basic Test Programs — Version 2, User's
Manual while the second volume is
devoted to the text of the 208 test
programs, with sample output from
each one.
Test programs
Many of the programs are verbose and
simple to the point of triviality. Seated
at your own small machine, you hardly
need a 30-line program to find out what
the processor does with a line number
containing a space; it is enough to type
in one such line. But the programs were
written to be called up at a terminal
from a file and each one is fully self-
documenting. It is easy to miss out the
repetitious bits if you want to test your
own computer and I think you will find
it very interesting to run many of these
tests.
If you are a supplier of Basic systems
which may be sold to the US federal
government or any of its many agencies,
then you will find it more than interest¬
ing. It is proposed that sometime before
the end of 1982 any such system will
have to conform to the ANSI standard.
That is why these test programs have
been developed by the NBS, which is
part of the Department of Commerce.
There are various kinds of test. There
are those for simple conformity, like
PRINT does print a blank line, and
PRINT“A” does print A. Then there are
tests for how the system reacts to
common errors like an array subscript
out of range. There are tests, as already
mentioned, for some of the usual exten¬
sions to Basic. Another group of test
programs is concerned with the
accuracy of computations, particularly
those for the built-in functions such as
SQR and COS. These tests are informa¬
tive only, since the standard does not
lay down limits for accuracy. Similar to
these tests for accuracy, and a shade
more problematical, is a group that
allow an investigation of the behaviour
of the RND function.
The Documentation volume makes it
clear that even taken as a whole these
programs do not amount to an
algorithm that can prove conformity
with the standard, although one failure
easily shows non-conformity. Rather,
they should be seen as test data for
the Basic processor, probing any weak¬
ness it may have, but never able to show
it is entirely free of faults.
This is particularly true of the tests
for randomness. There is no algorithm
that establishes a sequence or a process
as random, only tests that find patterns
indicating departure from randomness
and estimates of how likely such depar¬
tures are in a random sequence. First of
all, there is no such thing as a random
number; every number is a particular
number. There is certainly no such thing
as a random person; any individual,
however randomly chosen, will be male
or female, a specific age and weight.
There is not even such a thing as a
typical person, for the same reasons.
But returning to numbers, even
suppose a range is specified, such as 0
to 1, as for the RND function, no single
number is random. Look at 0.6249,
for example. Nothing very special about
it, apparently, just an ordinary looking
fraction, not the square of anything
interesting or a simple function of pi.
But suppose your random number
generator gave the value 0.6249 every
time Then you might not be too happy
to accept it as random. In any case, I
cheated, since tan 32° = 0.6249
approximately.
Donald Knuth, in his book on semi-
numerical algorithms, The Art of
Computer Programming , Vol 2, takes
this line of thought further to argue that
there is no such thing as a random
sequence: there are only particular
sequences. Another problem in our
relation of randomness is our natural
tendency to see patterns. Take a
random distribution in nature, the stars
in the night sky, leaving aside the
clustering of the Milky Way. What
people through the ages have seen in
this is not the randomness but patterns,
the constellations. The same seven stars
are picked out in almost every civilisa¬
tion and seen as a Bear or a Plough or
seven wise men.
By the way, Knuth also discusses in
this book the use of the Fibonacci
PCW 93
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PCW 94
series as a way of generating random
sequences and gives a brief history of
the topic. I wrote about this in my last
article, and could have given Knuth as
a reference. While he writes about using
the rule that the next term is the sum
of the two preceding ones to generate
fractions, I was concerned with it for
sequences of integers.
But the main reason for mentioning
Knuth’s book here is that the NBS test
programs for randomness are based on
his work, and a detailed understanding
can be got from reading it. To empha¬
sise the importance of theory in this
subject, Knuth relates how many of the
random generators developed during the
1970s are seriously faulty because they
were designed to pass a test which was
itself wrong! So you could get some sur¬
prises from running these tests on your
system.
Testing the DAI
Program A tests the average value of the
numbers generated by RND. It is
reproduced exactly as it appears in the
NBS book, together with its sample
output. The program is self-
documenting: the statistical theory is
not explained but the result of the test
is unambiguously clear: PASS or FAIL.
This is at the expense of some prolixity
and to run this test on your own
machine you hardly need to type in the
first 18 lines — it is enough to read
them.
I have run this program on my DAI,
which is a good machine for testing
these tests since it has both a hardware
and a software random number genera¬
tor. The software one is called in the
normal way, while the hardware genera¬
tor is activated by giving a zero
parameter in the call, that is RND(O).
Table 1 gives the results from four tests
with each one.
As has been said, no statistical test
is completely conclusive but these
results are reassuring. In every case the
amount of deviation was within the
limit set by the program. A failure
should be expected from about one case
in 20. In relation to this, the results
look reasonably spaced, the highest
being about two-thirds of the limit.
One failure would not indicate a high
probability of bias, but it should cause
the test to be repeated a few times: it
would be a cause for some suspicion,
a possible clue.
While each of these NBS programs
was designed as a simple go/no-go
test, I think it is much more sensible
to run them several times and in some
cases to modify them, as I shall show
later — to think of them as tools for an
investigation rather than as tests to pass
or fail. This is important in any statisti¬
cal test, and leads to a criticism of the
NBS programs.
Printing and using the value for the
limit to six significant figures might lead
someone to think that there is a sharp
dividing line between pass and fail. It
would be much better to give only three
significant figures as a reminder that
results near the limit are in a grey area,
a shoulder of doubt between staying on
10 PRINT "PROGRAM FILE 132: AVERAGE OF RANDOM NUMBERS APPROXIMATES 0.5"
15 PRINT " AND 0 <= RND < 1."
20 PRINT " ANSI STANDARD 8.4"
30 PRINT
40 PRINT "SECTION 132.1: AVERAGE OF RANDOM NUMBERS APPROXIMATES 0.5"
50 PRINT " AND 0 <= RND < 1."
60 PRINT
70 PRINT "THIS PROGRAM TESTS WHETHER THE AVERAGE OF A SERIES OF RANDOM"
80 PRINT "NUMBERS IS SIGNIFICANTLY FAR FROM THE IDEAL OF 0.5. IF SO,"
90 PRINT "THIS RESULT INDICATES NON-UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION AND THE TEST"
100 PRINT "FAILS. ALSO, IF ANY OF THE NUMBERS IS OUTSIDE THE ALLOWABLE"
110 PRINT "RANGE, AN IMMEDIATE FAILURE IS REPORTED."
120 PRINT
130 PRINT " BEGIN TEST"
140 PRINT
150 REM N=8754 BASED ON SIGNIFICANCE LEVEL OF .05 AND 0.1 CHANCE OF
160 REM NOT FINDING A DIFFERENCE OF AT LEAST .01 FROM STANDARD
170 REM AVERAGE OF 0.5, AND STANDARD DEVIATION OF 1/(2*SQR(3))
180 LET N=8754
190 LET S1=0
200 LET S2=0
210 FOR 1*1 TO N
220 LET X=RND
230 IF X<0 THEN 490
240 IF X>=1 THEN 510
250 LET SIsSWX
260 LET S2=S2+(X # X)
270 NEXT I
280 LET S = SQR((N f S2) - (S1*S1)) / N
290 LET XlsSI/N
300 PRINT ."AVERAGE","STD. DEV."
310 PRINT "THEORETICAL:",.5,1/(2*SQR(3))
320 PRINT "ACTUAL:",XI,S
330 LET A1=ABS(X1-0.5)
340 REM 1.96 BASED ON SIGNIFICANCE LEVEL OF .05 AND INFINITE D.F.
350 LET A2=(1.96*S)/SQR(N)
360 PRINT
370 PRINT "ALLOWABLE DEVIATION: ";A2
380 PRINT "ACTUAL DEVIATION: ";A1
390 PRINT
400 IF A1>A2 THEN 430
410 PRINT "•«» TEST PASSED •••"
420 GOTO 440
430 PRINT "*«* TEST FAILED ***"
440 PRINT
450 PRINT " END TEST"
460 PRINT
470 PRINT "END PROGRAM 132"
480 STOP
490 PRINT "RND#";I;" < 0: ";X
500 GOTO 430
510 PRINT "RND#";I;" >= 1: ";X
520 GOTO 430
530 END
Program A
PROGRAM FILE 132: AVERAGE OF RANDOM NUMBERS APPROXIMATES 0.5
AND 0 <= RND < 1.
ANSI STANDARD 8.4
SECTION 132.1: AVERAGE OF RANDOM NUMBERS APPROXIMATES 0.5
AND 0 <= RND < 1.
THIS PROGRAM TESTS WHETHER THE AVERAGE OF A SERIES OF RANDOM
NUMBERS IS SIGNIFICANTLY FAR FROM THE IDEAL OF 0.5. IF SO,
THIS RESULT INDICATES NON-UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION AND THE TEST
FAILS. ALSO, IF ANY OF THE NUMBERS IS OUTSIDE THE ALLOWABLE
RANGE, AN IMMEDIATE FAILURE IS REPORTED.
BEGIN TEST
AVERAGE STD. DEV.
THEORETICAL: .5 .288675
ACTUAL: .494924 .288053
ALLOWABLE DEVIATION: 6.03^29E-3
ACTUAL DEVIATION: 5.07560E-3
*»* TEST PASSED •••
END TEST
END PROGRAM 132
PCW 95
YOU DESE&V
TO STAY ON
♦
IER WAY
CORDS.
r rr
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DataStar -
Software*/Manual**,
£160/£25
WordStar —
Software*/Manual**,
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Software*/Manual**,
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SuperSort 1 —
Software*/Manual**,
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SpellStar —
Sof tware*/Manual **,
£125/£25
Apple WordStar —
Software*/Manual**,
£145/£25
Apple MailMerge —
Software*/Manual**,
£ 50/£15
Apple SuperSort 1 -
Software*/Manual**,
£ 85/£20
*Price of software includes
**100% credit if software
manual
is purchased later
TRADE ENQUIRIES
WELCOME
Prices and specifications subject to change without prior notice.
CP/M is a trademark of Digital Research Wordstar, DataStar, Super-
Sort and MailMerge are trademarks of MicroPro Inc.
Please write or phone for free 16-page brochures and flyers.
MAIN UK DISTRIBUTOR:
INTERAM COMPUTER SYSTEMS LTD.,
46 BALHAM HIGH RD., LONDON SW12 9AQ
Tel: 01 - 675 5325/6/7 Telex: 925859
RPbM M ,^
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GET IT ALL HERE
AVON
BCG Shop Equipment Ltd.,
Bristol Tel: 0272 425338
Decimal Business M/Cs Ltd.,
Bristol.Tel: 0272 294591
BERKSHIRE
Computer 100,
Bray. Tel: 0628 35619
Newbear Computing Store Ltd.,
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Camden Electronics,
Small Heath.Tel: 021 773 8240
Electronic Business Systems Ltd.,
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Jax Rest Ltd.,
Birmingham. Tel: 021 3505247
Newbear Computing Store Ltd.,
Birmingham B26.
Tel: 021 707 7170
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Curry's Microsystems,
High Wycombe Tel: 0494 40262
Interface Components Ltd.,
Amersham.Tel: 02403 22307
CAMBRIDGE
The Avery Computing Co Ltd.,
Bar Hill.Tel: 0954 80991
CHESHIRE
Bellard Electronics Ltd.,
Chester. Tel: 0244 380123
Charlesworth of Crewe Ltd.,
Crewe Tel: 027056342
Chandos Products,
New Mills.Tel: New Mills 44344
CR Technical Services,
Chester.Tel: 0244 317549
Fletcher Worthington Ltd.,
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Newbear Computing Store Ltd.,
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Ors Group Ltd.,
Warrington.Tel: 0925 67411
Sumlock Software,
Warrington.Tel: 0925 574593
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Hunting Computer Services Ltd.,
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Lowe Electronics Ltd.,
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DEVON
Crystal Electronics Ltd.,
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Xitan Systems Ltd.,
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Microcomputers,
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Datron Micro-Centre Ltd.,
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Huddersfield Computer Centre,
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PCW 97
YOU WILL FIND
WHAT WE DID!!
Specifications BM-12E
Input Signal: 1.0±0.2V P-P
composite Video sync,
negative, fully compatible.
Input Impedance: 75 ohms
CRT: 12”, 90° deflection
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Video Amplifier Bandwidth: 18 MHz
Display Format: 25 lines of 80 characters
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Weight: 16 Lbs
CRT WITH PHOSPHOR P-31 (GREEN) MAKES
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Average
Standard
Deviation
Allowed
Deviation
Actual
Deviation
Theoretical
0.5
0.288
0.00605
—
Software 1
0.50239
0.287
0.00600
0.00239
2
0.49704
0.291
0.00610
0.00296
3
0.50031
0.291
0.00609
0.00031
4
0.49977
0.289
0.00606
0.00023
Hardware 1
0.50411
0.294
0.00617
0.00411
2
0.50060
0.293
0.00613
0.00060
3
0.50116
0.294
0.00615
0.00116
4
0.49692
0.295
0.00619
0.00308
Table 1 Results from NBS program 132 on the DAI computer random
generators.
100 PRINT “NBS PROGRAM MODIFIED BY ALAN SUTCLIFFE*’
110 PRINT “CHI-SQUARE UNIFORMITY TEST FOR RND FUNCTION”
120 PRINT
130 PRINT “INPUT NUMBER OF SLOTS”
140 INPUT M
150 DIM Y(M)
160 P1=50*M
170 REM ABOUT 50 VALUES PER SLOT EXPECTED
180 PRINT “INPUT NUMBER OF EXPERIMENTS”
190 INPUT N
192 PRINT “EXPT”, “CHI-SQUARE”
200 REM CARRY OUT N EXPERIMENTS
210 FOR E=1 TO N
220 REM ZERO SLOT COUNTS
230 FOR 1=1 TO M
240 Y(I)=0
250 NEXT I
260 REM OBTAIN FREQUENCY COUNTS
270 FOR 1=1 TOPI
280 X=RND(1)
290 REM USE RND(0) FOR THE DAI HARDWARE GENERATOR
300 R=INT(M*X)+1
310 Y(R)=Y(R)+1
320 NEXT I
330 REM COMPUTE CHI*SQUARE STATISTIC
340 S=0
350 FOR 1=1 TO M
360 S=S+M*Y(I)*Y(I)
370 NEXT I
380 V1=(S/P1)-P1
390 PRINT E, VI
400 NEXT E
410 COMPUTE AND PRINT CHI-SQUARE LIMITS FOR M SLOTS
420 Q1=SQR(M+M—3)
430 Q2= 2.32*Q1
440 R1=M+1.75-Q2
450 R4=M+2.08+Q2
460 Q2=1.645*Q1
470 R2=M+0.14—Q2
480 R3=M+0.14+Q2
490 PRINT
500 PRINT “CHI-SQUARE LIMITS”
510 PRINT “ 1%”,R1
520 PRINT “ 5%”,R2
530 PRINT “95%”,R3
540 PRINT “99%”,R4
550 END
Program B
the hard conforming carriageway and
going off the road into very unlikely
countryside. If the test is run once and
the result is near the limit, whether
just inside or just outside, the action
should be the same: run it again.
One rule of thumb in any such test is
that the effect of altering just one of the
values in the test sequence cannot be
significant. In this case it would be silly
to think that if just one of the 8754
values had been near 1 instead of near 0
this could affect the result. One
such change would increase the average
by about 0.0001. So the fourth figure in
the average can hardly matter, and the
fifth and sixth figures, as given in the
NBS results, are irrelevant. It’s called
spurious precision and should be
avoided, as I have tried to do in Table 1.
I leave it as a programming exercise for
you to devise a routine to print the
value of a Basic variable to three signi¬
ficant places.
This is a surprising deficiency for a
National Bureau of Standards. It is
compounded by the use of a constant
in the computation correct only to
three figures. In line 350 the value 1.96
is only approximate, like calling pi
3.14. Actually it is a little better
because I think the true value is 1.960-
something. It is the number of standard
deviations within which 95 percent of
the normal curve lies.
Notice, too, that a slightly different
figure is given for the standard devia¬
tion, and therefore for the limit, for
each run of the test. But since the limit
is always around 0.00600 to 0.00602
this refinement hardly matters and may
again suggest a precision that is irrele¬
vant.
There is just the suspicion of
something amiss in the figure in Table 1.
The deviations from the hardware
generator are somewhat higher than
those from the software one, although
they overlap. The standard deviations
from the hardware are all higher than
those from the software. This suggests
that while the average values from the
hardware are about right, they may vary
away from the average, up and down,
more than they should. The next test
shows this dramatically.
Remember, in looking at these
results, that too many values from
repeated tests very near 0.5, that is, too
many results with very low actual
deviation, can indicate a fault just as
much as too much can — a distribution
that is too well behaved. An extreme
example would be if the random
generator produced exactly 0.5 every
time. Such a generator would pass this
test with zero deviation (and zero stand¬
ard deviation, too). Over a long series of
tests the actual deviations should have a
normal distribution, with an average of
0.5 and a standard deviation of about
0.0031. But always remember that the
outsider might just come up. There is a
chance of 1 in 10 8754 that all the
values will be less than 0.1 in a test. If
that happens, with an otherwise sound
generator, let me know. It is of the same
order of chance of a miracle happening
without divine intervention: say a
bullet passing through someone’s body
without doing any harm because none
of the atoms collided.
Testing distribution
Having looked at the average, it is
natural to look at the distribution of
values in the allowed range 0 to 1;
Program B enables you to do this.
It is based on the NBS program, but
I have modified it to allow any number
of slots. The range 0 to 1 is divided into
a number of equal slots and there is a
count for each slot which is increased
by one whenever a value occurs within
the range of that slot.
At the end of a run the distribution
of the values of these counts is checked
using the X-square test. There is no
space here to explain this standard
statistical method, any more than I have
explained standard deviation or normal
distribution. If you are not familiar
with these terms, refer to any introduc¬
tion to statistics, such as Facts from
Figures by M J Moroney (Penguin).
The NBS program works only for
21 slots and gives the values of X-square
only for this case. I have therefore
added a subroutine that calculates it
for any number of slots. But beware —
this routine gives inaccurate values for
cases with fewer than 10 slots, so for
these cases you should look in a book of
statistical tables for X-square.
Table 2 shows the results of 10 tests
with Program B for the DAI software
and hardware generators. In each test
there were 100 slots and 5000 samples,
that is, random numbers. The
chi-square limits indicate how many of
the results are expected to lie below the
PCW 99
quoted values. For example, from Table
2, only 1 percent of the tests should
have a result below 69.2, while only 1
percent should be above 134.6.
The software generator is again well
behaved, with all the results well within
the limits. But the results from the hard¬
ware generator are very high, with half
the values above the 99 percent limit,
indicating a big departure from uniform
distribution.
To check this further, I next ran a
simple test on each generator. 200,000
samples were distributed among 70 slots
and the totals in each slot displayed on
the screen as a bar chart; 70 was chosen
so that the results would fit conveni¬
ently on the screen in low resolution
mode.
The software generator behaves as it
should, with a nice even distribution of
values. Figure 1 shows a plot of the
results from one test photographed
from the screen and Figure 2 shows the
corresponding results from the hardware
generator. You don’t have to know a
thing about statistics to see what is
happening. At the extremes of the
range, near 0 and 1, there are far more
values than there should be. There is
also a lesser peak in the middle and
some other minor peaks in between. I
could not have asked for a better
example to illustrate this article.
I don’t want to spoil your fun too
much by giving away the rest of the
story, because I think you should buy
or borrow this book of programs and
run some of them. All I will say is that
some of the other tests for randomness
have intriguing names: the Komolgorov-
Smirnov test for uniformity, the serial
test and the gap test for randomness,
the poker test and the coupon collector
test for the RND function, among
others.
Figure 2
Crossword
composition
The Computer Journal is not noted for
articles of popular interest; more usually
it is devoted to technical topics such as
the ‘Determination of Eigenvalues of
Expt
Software
Hardware
1
91.3
129.4
2
102.1
172.3
3
92.6
119.7
4
92.4
140.6
5
84.5
152.4
6
98.7
138.5
7
97.2
143.3
8
103.4
110.4
9
96.0
131.1
10
104.6
110.1
Chi-Square Limits
1%
69.2
5%
77.1
95%
123.2
99%
134.6
Table 2 Result of tests of
distribution of random numbers
from the DAI computer , with
100 slots and 5000 samples in
each test.
Symmetric Quindiagonal Matrices’. But
the May 1981 issue has a fascinating
description by P D Smith and S Y Steen
of their Prototype Crossword Compiler.
Input to the compiler is a diagram
of blank and blocked-in squares of the
usual kind. The program then attempts
to fill the blank squares with words
looked up in a dictionary of nearly
8000 words held on disk. The use of
bit lists and heuristic tree searching
allows non-trivial puzzles to be compo¬
sed in reasonable time, anything from
six to 600 processor seconds on an ICL
1904S. To ensure a fair trial, input dia¬
grams were taken from puzzles in daily
papers.
That still leaves the clues to be
composed and the authors think that
the simple type of multiple-definition
would be easy to generate (Utensil
god = PAN), but see no prospect of
making up cryptic clues by program. A
dictionary of anagrams could be compu¬
ted once and for all. The methods
described could be adapted to run on a
small machine.
Further study
The City University in London is
running several evening courses this
winter on computing and related sub¬
jects. The list below shows the starting
dates, some of the shorter classes being
run twice.
Elementary Programming in Fortran,
January; Introduction to Basic, October
and January; Pascal and Structured
Programming, October and January;
Computer Music, October; Business Pro¬
gramming in Cobol, October.
For more information contact: Adult
Education, Centre for Arts and Related
Studies, City University, Northampton
Square, London EC1V 0HB, telephone
01-253 4399 ext 496.
<£MI
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CHESS
FINAL
f S
(1
For the second year running the
Personal Computer World Show played
host to the European Microcomputer
Chess Championship. The accommo¬
dation provided, namely a discreet
suite well removed from the howling
mobs, seemed somehow more in
keeping with the spirit of the game than
last year’s site next to the bar.
Twelve programs found their way
into the finals: Advance 2.0 (Dave
Wilson, Mike Johnson); Albatross 3.0
(Michael J Parker); Caesar (John Lowe);
Chess Champion (Sci Sys-W Ltd: David
Broughton, M Johnson, D Levy,
KO’Connell, M Taylor); Chessnut
(Geoffrey J Bulmer); Cyrus (Richard
Lang); Gambiet 81 (Microtrend Ltd:
Wim Rens); Logichess (Kaare Danielsen);
Microtrend Experimental (Microtrend
Ltd: Wim Rens); Philidor Experimental
(Philidor Software: D Broughton, D
Levy, K O’Connell, M Taylor); Philidor
(Philidor Software: D Broughton, D
Levy, K O’Connell, M Taylor); White
Knight (Philidor Software: M Bryant).
Of these entries I had only heard of
the Philidor before the event and,
considering the claims the programmers
had made about it, it seemed natural
that it would win quite easily. In the
absence of the Great Game Machine
(with the Granfeld and Morphy Car¬
tridges) and other well known machines
such as the Mephisto and the Sensory
Voice Challenger (the winner of the
1st Official World Championship for
micro-computers last year), surely there
could be no doubt.
The final result was very surprising.
The non-commercial entries scored
very well.
As a very keen chess player, I am
much more interested in the quality of
the games than the bare results. Many
of the games were decided, in my view,
in a most random manner — but this
was not the case with the games played
by Cyrus. Cyrus played such good
games I would have been quite pleased
had I played them myself. Only in the
first round did Cyrus get into a diffi-
100 PCW
cult position. Philidor Experimental
won material and then insisted on a
continual attack on Cyrus’s pieces while
ignoring the defence of its own king
which Cyrus finally managed to check¬
mate.
For the remainder of the tourna¬
ment Cyrus played remarkable chess
and I have chosen two games for com¬
ments although all five are well worth
publication.
Philidor-Cyrus: round 3
d2-d4
c2-c4
e2-e4
Ngl-f3
Bflxc4
programs
d7-d5
d5xc4
e7-e5
e5xd4
Nb8-C6
are now out
Rnd 1
Rnd 2
Rnd 3
Rnd 4
Rnd 5
1
Cyrus
W5
W7
W4
W2
W6
5
2
Advance 2.0
W12
W3
W9
LI
W4
4
3
Logichess
W9
L2
W5
L4
W8
3
4
Philidor
W10
W8
LI
W3
L2
3
5
Philidor Expl.
LI
Wll
L3
W9
W10
3
6
Caesar
D8
L10
W12
W7
LI
2 V 2
7
Gambiet 81
Wll
LI
D10
L6
W12
2 V 2
8
Microtrend Expl.
D8
L4
Wll
W10
L3
2 V 2
9
Ch. Champ Mk V
L3
W12
L2
L5
Wll
2
10
White Knight
L10
W6
D7
L8
L5
IV 2
11
Chessnut
L7
L5
L8
W12
L9
1
12
Albatross 3.0
L2
L9
L6
Lll
L7
0
Table 1 Results
of their
Both
book 'openings. Instead of Cyrus’s
last move, the recommended move is
Bf8-b4+6 60 Ng8-f6.
‘Knights before Bishops’ is an often-
quoted recipe for use in opening play.
The reason is that it’s rarely clear wnich
are the best squares to develop bishops,
whereas knights nearly always belong
as near to the centre as possible.
7 e4-eS Nf6-e4
8 Qdl-e2 Ne4-Cs
9 Bcl-g5 Bf8-e7
10 Bg5xe7 Qd8 x el
11 b2-b4
The Levy et al programs seem to play
this move a lot in different types of
positions. Here it is easily understand¬
able in that after the exchange of
Philidor’s b-pawn for Cyrus’s d-pawn,
White will have made a small gain in
position. Central pawns tend to be
worth more than the outer pawns
because of their influence over the
central squares (although this tends
to be reversed as the end game ap-
E roaches and outside passed pawns
ecome very important).
11 .. Nc6xb4
12 Nf3 x d4 Bc8-e6
13 Nd4 x e6 Nc5 x e6
14 Nbl-c3 00-0 (Ke8-c8)
This seems a most unusual decision.
A human player would think twice
before castfing in front of so many
open files. However, in this position
this move is a very good idea for several
reasons: Had Cyrus played 14...00
(Ke8-g8) then Philidor could have
generated a strong attacking position
with moves such as f2-f4. f5-i6, Nc3-
e4 and so on. Further, if (after 14...000)
Philidor attempts to attack on the
Queen-side the active Black pieces
should easily be able to defend. Lastly,
Cyrus can now contemplate a King-siae
attack. The trouble with the above
ideas is that they are all plans which
can materialise over, let’s say, six to 10
moves (12 — 20 ply). Now, for a
machine to analyse six to 10 moves
ahead, it would require a considerable
length of time. In this tournament the
machines had to play at a time rate of
30 moves by eacn player per hour of
that player’s time, so, there is no way
these long range ideas could have been
considered. Yet, amazingly, Cyrus
castled Queen-side, easily aefendea its
own King and successfully attacked
Philidor’s King!
15 a2-a3 Nb4-c6
16 Nc3-d5 Qe7-c5
17 Rfl-dl Nc6-d4
18 Qe2-a2 C7-c6
19 Nd5-e3 Qc5 x e5
20 Racl h7-h5
I like to imagine Cyrus’s last move
as the inauguration of a King-side
attack, although it was played simply
to increase the scope of the Rook on
h8.
21 Bc4-d5 Kc8-b8
22 Bd5-C4 h5-h4
Philidor’s last two moves show a
common weakness of chess programs.
A strong human player woula not
consider placing a piece on a bad
square in order to make a random
attack if, after a straightforward defen¬
sive move that piece is forced to
withdraw to the position from which
it came. Philidor’s last two moves did
nothing to improve its own position,
while Cyrus uses in effect the extra
two moves very constructively.
Another weakness of chess programs
is that they do not ‘learn’ from their
mistakes so Philidor makes the same
error with its next two moves.
23 Ne3-g4 Qe5-g5
24 Ng4-e3 Nd4-?3+
25 Kgl-hl Rd8xdl+
26 Rclxdl Nf3-d4
27 Rdl-bl h4-h3
Cyrus gives points to moves which
attack its opponents castled position.
28 Qa2-b2 h3xg2+
29 Ne3xg2 b7-b5
30 h2-h4 Nf3xh4
This is the only move in the game
which disappointed me. I would have
liked to have seen Cyrus play 31...
Qg5-g4 with the threat of check mate
next move. Only delaying moves such as
Ob2-e5+ would prolong the game but
then only for a few moves. The move
chosen by Cyrus is still very strong, and
indeed wins a lot of material, but
lot longer than neces-
Philidor lasts a
sary.
32 Qxb2xb5
Rblxb5+
Rb5xg5
Ng2-h4
Khl-g2
Cyrus
33
34
35
36
and
c6xb5
Kb8-c7
Nh4-f3+
Rh8xh4+
Ne6xg5
delivered checkmate
c7-c5
Nb8-c6
c5xd4
Ng8-f6
d7-d6
10
11 Bc4xe6
12 a3-c4
13 Qdl-e2
Cyrus begins
suiting in the
on
move 53.
Finally the game that essentially
decided the tournament. After three
rounds only two programs, Advance
2.0 and Cyrus, had won all their games.
They now had to play each other.
Advance 2.0 — Cyrus: round 4
e2-e4
Ngl-f3
d2-d4
Nf3xd4
Nbl-c3
Bcl-g5
This is a standard opening variation
known as the Sicilian RichFer-Rauzer.
Cyrus now goes its own way and by
accident transposes into an extremely
popular variation called the Sicilian
Svesnikov!
6 .. e7-e5
7 Nd4-b5 a7-a6
Advance 2.0 should have played the
attacked knight fo f5. Now the opening
has become a Sicilian Svesnikov.
8 Bg5xf6 g7xf6
9 No5-a3 Bc8-e6
10 Bfl-c4
Generally 10 Na3-c4 is considered the
best move here but I’m sure most
computers would give more weight
to developing an unmoved piece ratner
than spend time improving the position
of a piece already developed.
Qd8-b6
F7xe6
Qb6-b4
d6-d5!
a tactical phase, re¬
gain of material and
finally checkmate. In several of its
games Cyrus initiated a sequence of
simple tactics, which resulted in the
gain of material, but only after building
up its position to the point where the
tactics were justified. The significant
point to consider here is that it is in
exactly this manner that the majority
of games between strong human players
are decided. Both players will man¬
oeuvre until one plaver gains the greater
freedom of action for his pieces. Then,
using this freedom, the player creates
a sequence of threats which usually
force a sudden deterioration in his
opponent’s position often resulting in
the gain of material. ‘As usual, tactics
flow from a positionally superior game.’
(Bobby Fischer.)
14 Qe2-h5+ Ke8-e7
Rather dynamic play this! Yet com¬
pletely in tune with the nature of the
opening variation.
15 e4xd5 Nc6-d4
16 Nc4-e3 Qb4xb2
17 d5-d6+ Ke7-d8
18 Kel-d2
Forced to avoid the loss of a piece.
But now the White king is rapidly
executed.
18 ... Ra8-c8
19 Nc3-e4 Nd4Xc2
20 Ne3Xc2 Qb2-c2+
21 Kd2-e3 Rc8-c4
22 Qh5-h4 Bf8-h6+!
One of those moves any human player
would have found extremely pleasant
to play. If the bishop is captured,
Cyrus mates in three moves. After the
move played it’s mate in 4.
23 Ke3-f3 Qc2-d3+
24 Kf3-g4 Qd3xe4+
25 Kg4-g3
and the operators of Advance 2.0
resigned.
The last round was a bit of an
anti-climax as Cyrus had already dis¬
posed of its main rivals. Yet again Cyrus
won a nice game after Caesar managed
to get a knight trapped among Cyrus’s
pawns.
What strikes me most about the
games played by Cyrus compared with
those played by the other programs, is
that Cyrus seems to co-ordinate its
pieces. It gets them working well
together then begins an attack for
which it is well prepared.
Richard Lang kindly provided some
information about his program, part of
which I reproduce here.
Cyrus has seven levels of play;
the levels correspond to the number
of V 2 moves (ply) that Cyrus looks ahead
(the search is automatically made
deeper in the end-game and for checks
at the top ply). The most useful levels
are 3,4 and 5 which have average re¬
sponse times of about six seconds,
40 seconds and 1 minute 45 seconds
respectively.
Cyrus occupies just over 7k of
memory, of wnich about 1.25k is a
table of 450 opening moves. In
addition level 5 needs a 2k workspace
and level 7 needs 2.5k.
Cyrus uses depth-first alpha-beta
GOTO page 180
PCW 101
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Member Apple Dealers subscribing to this advertisement:
B & B Computers Ltd
Suite 1
124 Newport Street
Bolton
Tel: 0204 26644
Business Office Links Ltd
73 Albany Road
Coventry CV5 6JR
Tel: 0203 78651
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324 Euston Road
London NW1
Tel: 01-387 0505
Camden Electronics Ltd
462 Coventry Road
Small Heath
Birmingham BIO OUG
Tel: 021-773 8240
DBM Systems & Software
58 Victoria Street
Bristol 1 Avon
Tel: 0272 214093
Datron Micro Centre
2 Abbeydale Road
Sheffield S71FD
Tel: 0742 585490
Ferguson Computers Ltd
4 Byrford Road
West Byfleet Surrey KT14 62S
Tel: 09323/45330
Great Northern Computer Svcs Ltd
116 Low Lane
Horsforth Leeds
Tel: 0532 589980
Johnson Microcomputers
Johnson House,
75-79 Park Street, Camberley
Surrey
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Keen Computers Ltd
Minerva House
Spanniel Row Nottingham
Tel: 0602 412777
Lion Microsystems
Lion House
227 Tottenham Court Road
London W1P OHX
Tel: 01-636 9613
Micro Facilities
129 High Street
Hampton Hill
Middlesex, TW121NJ
Tel: 01-979 4546
Micro Management
32 Princes Street
Ipswich Suffolk
Tel: 0473 57871
Newbear Computing Store
40 Bartholomew Street
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Vlasak House, Stuart Rd
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Tel: 0494 448633
COMPUTER RETAILERS ASSOCIATION
■ Your Guarantee of Satisfaction
104 PCW
OSBORNE 01
When we heard that Adam Osborne was in town and that he had his Osborne 1 computer with him we
tracked him down to a party near the Embankment. Hearing that we were prepared to work all night and
most of the next day on the evaluation , he kindly handed it over. David Tebbutt takes up the tale.
Well, after years of telling everyone else
what to do and handing out White
Elephant Awards to those who satis¬
fied his idea of what is excellent in the
microcomputer industry, Adam
Osborne has put his neck on the block
and come up with an interesting
hardware/software package which, with
typical modesty, he calls the Osborne 1.
It is a portable microcomputer compri¬
sing a keyboard, a built-in video
monitor, two floppy disk drives and a
whole bunch of useful software. In
fact, in America, the cost of the soft¬
ware if purchased separately would be
around 91500. The Osborne 1 including
all this software sells over there for
91795, a theoretical hardware cost of
just 9295! Nor is the software gratui¬
tous rubbish — it comprises CP/M,
MBasic, CBasic, Wordstar, Mailmerge
and Supercalc. CP/M is just about the
industry standard operating system,
which means that a wide range of
existing and new software products will
be quickly made available for the
Osborne 1. MBasic and CBasic must be
the most widely used Basic implementa¬
tions; one is interpreted, the
other compiled. At the risk of over¬
simplification, this means that MBasic
is easier to use whereas CBasic programs
run faster. Wordstar must be one of the
best word processing packages around,
although my personal preference (bias?)
is for Spellbinder, and it comes with
Mailmerge, which enables you to
maintain and use mailing lists and merge
details from the lists into standard
letters and the like. Finally, Supercalc
is what the Americans would call an
electronic spreadsheet. It allows you to
enter numbers, formulae or descriptions
on a large matrix of rows and columns.
Any cell on the grid whose value is
derived from other values within the
grid displays a fresh result every time
that one of its component values is
changed. It is similar to Visicalc but,
according to people who’ve used both,
it’s also better.
So there you have it; at <£1200 the
Osborne 1 appears to be the answer to
every would-be computerist’s prayer.
It does have one major drawback
though — the screen is very small —
5in — and that’s its diagonal measure-
PCW 105
Unique accessories to PET/CBM
add more power
PET-FORTH
A unique, extensible program¬
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has cut program development time
to a fraction of the normal. FORTH
allows you to program any type of
application, thanks to its extensible
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compact. PET-FORTH is a full, ex¬
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des a virtual memory facility, an inter¬
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as well as a resident macro assembler,
all which fits in 8.5K - simultaneously.
A comprehensive manual of more than 320 pages, which also is an
exhaustive tutorial, is included. For production purposes we can
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Price:
PET-FORTH,
including manual
PET-FORTH,
only manual
Target compiler
PET-FORTH
£195
£ 20
£500
PET-TERM
A program that turns your PET/CBM
8032 into an intelligent terminal. Sup¬
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COM, the SCIP or the CBM 8010
acoustic coupler. You may communi¬
cate at up to 9600 baud, with selectable
framing and parity. PET-TERM will also
translate and transmit Word-Pro files.
Data may be printed on the printer or
saved on disk PET-TERM includes a life¬
time guarantee.
Price: PET-TERM,
including manual
PET-TERM,
only manual
£90
£10
Dealers are invited.
PET-SWITCH
At a sensational price of £ 75 i
per unit. PET-SWITCH enables
you to connect up to 16
PET/CBM computers to one
disk drive and one printer. You
can mix all models of
PET/CBM in the same system
(2001,3032,8032 etc).
PET-SWITCH is technically
superior to most of its competi-
tors-no priority problems for
example. Price: PET-SWITCH,
mother unit
PET-SWITCH,
daughter unit
f 9
SCIP
£125
£ 75
A Serial Communication Inter¬
face that supplies both RS-
232 and Current Loop. Pro¬
grammable baudrate. Ad-
ressed as an IEEE device.
50 character internal buffer.
Selectable ASCII translation
Price:
£240
erface for PET
PET-COM - RS-232C i
A bidirectional RS-232C interface that
connects to PET via the memory expan¬
sion port. The baud rates range from 50 to
9600. and the number of data bits and stop
bits is selectable. You may also set even,
odd, or no parity. ^ g 72
Price:
PET IEEE
to Centronics Interface
This IEEE => Centronics interface is es¬
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upper lower case modes. This is available ggg
through a built-in switch. n
Price:
Country specific Character Generator
for the 4022 and 3022 printers
By using this board you can have Greek,
French, German, or any other special
characters in your printer, at a very low cost|
It is already used in all Nordic countries,
and several other countries have
requested it. pr|ce; £20
Datatronic AB is since 1978 sole Swedish distributor of the Commodore computer product line, and is now market leading in
microcomputer technology in Scandinavia. Datatronic AB has a long experience in both hardware and software; today
Datatronic has used more than 150.000 man-hours in software and hardware development for the PET. All non-Commodore
products are produced and tested in-house. The Datatronic-group, which is the fastest growing electronics group in
Scandinavia, has a turnover of approximately $ 30.000.000, and employs over 200 people.
For further information contact Datatronic AB,
Box 42094, S-12612 Stockholm, Sweden.
Phone 8-7445920
or your nearest Commodore dealer.
datatronic ab
Box 42094 S-12612 STOCKHOLM Sweden
Phone:8-7445920 Telex: PET S 17828
106 PCW
OSBORNE 01
ment! To overcome this, those who
really need one can buy a separate
12in monitor. In America this costs
$250. Of course the machine is then
less convenient to carry around. Perhaps
the answer is to have the large screen
situated wherever you use the machine
most.
Adam Osborne neither makes nor
sells the Osborne 1. He assembles it
and tests it from supplied components
and he puts most of the selling emphasis
on the software available. In other
words he’s selling solutions to problems
and he couples this with the sinister
suggestion that you won’t be able to
compete in your profession without an
Osborne 1. Of course such comments
apply to all computers, but to read the
sales literature you’d think that the
Osborne was the only route to salvation.
He even claims that the Osborne 1
marks the advent of the Personal
Business Computer. If that’s the case,
I wonder how he would describe
machines like the SuperBrain and
Apple.
If you think you’d like one, a
number of UK dealers will be getting
demonstration machines in October but
orders will take from three to six
months to fulfil. This is expected to
come down to a month or less by next
summer. Adam is only authorising
dealers who can demonstrate a willing¬
ness and ability to support their
customers. This means that you’re
unlikely to find these machines in
discount stores or with flaky dealers.
Hardware
The Osborne 1 comes in a cream
vacuum-formed plastic case with a
carrying handle at the back and a key¬
board clipped on the front. A groove
runs along each side of the case rather
like that along the side of some Rover
cars. Unlike the cars, this groove makes
the Osborne easy to pick up. It’s a bit
of an odd shape when the keyboard is
clamped in place. In fact when you
stand it on end the whole thing tilts
alarmingly due to the fact that the
keyboard unit is designed to slope down
towards the user. Although the present
case is vacuum-formed, there are plans
afoot for a new design using injection-
moulded plastic foam. I’ll be mention¬
ing that later in the review.
When the machine is opened, you
find a black bezel (front) and a grey
keyboard set in a black keyplate. The
The 0-1 in carrying mode.
The keyboard detaches completely — apart from the ribbon cable , of course.
machine weighs in at 26.51bs according
to my bathroom scales but Adam tells
me it should weigh 24. If he’s right
then my scales are wrong and I’m
actually my ideal weight. (Hysterical
laughter — Ed.) With the keyboard
clipped in place the effect is not
unlike my wife’s sewing machine except
of course the 0-1 is much lighter.
A disk drive is located on either side
of the small 5in monitor and beneath
each drive is a pocket capable of holding
up to 15 disks. I' had a nasty moment
during the review when I thought I’d
lost all the disks. I searched high and
low for them and after 10 minutes of
sheer panic I glanced at the machine and
there they were, nicely tucked up in one
of the pockets!
Along the bezel and below the
monitor and disk pockets are a
number of sockets and controls. Work¬
ing from right to left this is what you’ll
find: battery socket, reset button,
external video socket, contrast and
brightness controls, keyboard socket,
IEEE-488/Centronic parallel socket
(software switchable), serial RS232C
socket and a modem socket. I quite
like the idea of being able to see what
you’ve got plugged into the machine
without having to grovel round the
back. Quite how it looks when all the
various leads are in place I can’t
imagine. The keyboard lead is a flat
cable enclosed in a plastic braid. I
presume this is to prevent the wires
getting pinched when the keyboard is
clamped on the front. I didn’t have
anything connected anywhere else.
The brightness and contrast controls I
found essential for getting the display
just right; unless it is right it can be very
tiring to use. The reset button wipes out
the memory and returns you to a
monitor command telling you to insert
a disk and type RETURN. This then
drops you into a master menu or
CP/M, depending which disk you’ve
loaded.
The review machine had almost
silent Siemens’ disk drives. They worked
perfectly and I could only really hear
them when the house went quiet in the
early hours. Around three o’clock in the
morning I thought I heard a budgie
hopping around — it was the disk drives.
I decided that I’d had enough and
grabbed a couple of hours’ sleep. MPI
drives are installed on some Osbornes
and these are just as reliable — the doors
are slightly more robust but, according
to Osborne they sound like ‘a sack of
marbles’!
The screen is interesting because it
allows two display intensities plus
optional underlining. If you’re techni¬
cal you might be wondering how Adam
manages this with just eight bits per
character. The answer is that he doesn’t
— he uses nine for the characters to be
displayed. Bits 0-6 are used for the
ASCII code, bit 7 for underline and bit
8 for intensity. The matrix is an unusual
8 x 10 which gives true descenders, 32
graphics characters plus the under¬
lining mentioned just now. Another
fascinating feature of the display is the
lateral and vertical scrolling. The vertical
didn’t work on the review machine,
incidentally, so I don’t know whether
it would be smooth or not. One thing’s
certain, the lateral scrolling was
perfectly smooth. The screen can
display 24 lines of 52 characters at a
time. The screen memory can hold
32 lines of 128 characters so, using
certain control keys, you can move
the ‘window’ to any part of the screen
memory. If, for example, you had
completely filled the screen memory
and you decided to scroll sideways,
the effect would be rather like watching
a cylinder revolving, because the whole
screen scrolls, not just the current line.
The major disadvantage of the screen
is that it’s too darned small. Adam tells
me that he uses it for hours on end
without any trouble. I knew then just
how Mandy Rice-Davies came to utter
those immortal words when the judge
told her that Lord Astor had denied
any ‘goings-on’ between them: ‘Well,
he would, wouldn’t he?’ said Mandy. I
digress. I did ask Adam if he’d consi¬
dered putting a fresnel lens in front of
the screen. He had, and the result was
so much distortion that he felt it better
to forget it. Here’s a money-spinning
opportunity for someone — invent a
device that fits into one of the diskette
pockets when not in use and which
magnifies the screen without unaccep¬
table distortion. Of course, if you’d like
to make me rich too for tipping you off
then that’s just fine by me!
The keyboard is nicely laid out, with
both typewriter and calculator-style
keypads. A few things are on the
Osborne that you perhaps wouldn’t
expect on a budget machine — a
caps lock, a ‘£’ sign on British versions
PCW 107
OSBORNE 01
and a pimple on the 5 on the numeric
keypad so you know where you are
without looking. The keys automati¬
cally repeat after being held down
for a second or so. My only criticism
of the layout is that you need two
hands to scroll the screen — one to hold
the control key and the other to operate
the ‘arrow’ key. I mentioned this to
Adam and he told me that he was faced
with the choice of giving the user single-
handed cursor movement when creating
text or single-handed operation when
scrolling (reading) text. At least Adam’s
way means you can keep your place on an
input document with one hand while
operating the cursor controls with the
other. I wish I’d thought of asking him
why the control key wasn’t placed next
to the arrow keys. Another way of
scrolling the screen is to use the control
key in conjunction with the 1, 2 or 3
keys. CTRL-1 displays columns 1 to
52, CTRL-2 columns 53 to 104 and
CTRL-3 columns 105 back round to 28.
Moving round the back, there’s a
little recess which contains the on/off
switch and a circuit breaker reset
button. This is where you stow the
cable and plug when carting the
machine around. A plastic cover is
‘velcroed’ over the recess to hold every¬
thing in place. The review machine
didn’t have appropriate slots for the
UK type of plug so 1 had to disconnect
it to make the photos look okay. Adam
tells me that this won’t be a problem on
the UK versions of the 0-1. Also at the
back is the quaintest carrying handle
you ever did see. It’s like those leather
handles you get on the old-fashioned
cardboard suitcases. Adam is a firm
believer that if something does a job
adequately then that’s just fine. To risk
boring you with another quote, he says
‘Better is the enemy of good, adequacy
is sufficient and everything else is
irrelevant.’ This maybe explains the 5in
screen too and it certainly explains his
approach to software authorisation,
which you’ll be reading about later on.
To get inside the machine it is
necessary to remove the bezel, which is
attached by four screws, and the bright¬
ness and contrast knobs. The screws
were easy but the knobs needed a very
small Allen key. Once inside, you can
only see the first inch or two of the
various components since they all
disappear into the depths of the case.
I felt as if I was peering into a rather
full bucket. What I could see looked
clean and well made. The only notice¬
able thing out of place was a jumper
wire from one part of the single board
computer to another. Adam tells me
that there were design faults on some
of the earlier boards and that this must
have been one of them. The front edge
of the board contained all the ports and
controls mentioned earlier. Ah yes, that
reminds me, the serial port connection
should have protruded from the bezel.
As it was on the review machine it
would have been difficult to attach a
printer connector, for example. Once
again Adam says that is being attended
to. A closer examination would have
involved a lot of time literally pulling
the machine apart and, really, it just
wasn’t worth it. I had a peek inside the
keyboard unit and it, too, was well
made, comprising a metal keyplate
in a vacuum-formed plastic shell. The
keyboard itself was quite firm and I
noticed that a couple of metal channels
ran from end to end underneath. I
presume that these were attached for
rigidity.
Everything connected with the
Osborne 1 has got ‘Osborne’ plastered
all over it, even the disk sleeves. I’m
not sure whether this is simply sound
publicity or an ego trip by Adam. I
must say I find the private man far more
pleasant than the public version.
Each disk can hold up to 102,400
bytes of information. That’s the equiva¬
lent of about three times the length of
this Benchtest. The disks are soft
sectored with 40 tracks, each compris¬
ing 10 sectors. A sector on this machine
is 256 bytes. I suspect there must be
some sort of software fudge to make
CP/M think that the tracks are 20
sectors of 128 bytes. Adam tells me
that double-density drives will be avail¬
able soon, which must be good news
for those with high volumes of data to
process. Although Adam gets his disks
from several sources, he tells me that
Dysan is the major supplier. Since I use
them exclusively, I was pleased to hear
this. I have heard that the oxide coating
is less stable on some other disks, the
‘no-name’ ones being the worst
offenders.
Software
Adam Osborne has collected together a
very good range of software which he
supplies with the machine at no extra
cost. This is sometimes referred to in
the trade as ‘bundled’ software. Adam
knew what the most popular applica¬
tions were and he knew that it would be
wise to stick to industry standard
system software so he went ahead and
wrapped up an entire package which
would satisfy most people’s immediate
requirements and still give them the
opportunity to buy other programs as
their needs developed. In my view a
decent database package would have
rounded everything off just nicely but
Adam is sticking to a few ‘authorised’
databases for which the customer pays
extra.
Let’s comment on each piece of
software in turn. If you’re an old hand
at this game, you’ll be able to skip the
next four paragraphs without losing
too much information.
First of all, CP/M: the name is on
everyone’s lips, but how many
people actually know what it is? The
initials stand for Control Program for
Microprocessors and it was designed to
facilitate the writing of programs for
Z80, 8080 and 8085 processors.
Although the processors in different
microcomputers are the same, the bits
and pieces that surround them are very
different. Keyboards use different keys,
printers vary, screens have different
layouts, disks come in an alarming
number of shapes and sizes and I/O
ports have different addresses. CP/M
comes between the program and these
different devices and it handles trans¬
fers of information between them and
the memory. Since CP/M takes care of
the information transfer beyond the
program and the memory, all the
program has to do is to pass the infor¬
mation to CP/M together with some
instruction on what it wants done
with it. The program then just sits back
and waits for CP/M to tell it that the
job’s been done. This all means that a
program written for use with CP/M
rather than for a specific machine will
be widely used, provided it’s worth
using in the first place. All that has to
be done to ensure that this will happen
is that the machine supplier usually
‘configures’ CP/M to suit the peculiari¬
ties of your piece of equipment. By pro¬
viding CP/M with the Osborne, a whole
world of software opens up immediately.
You also get a few other things with
CP/M. You get a whole pile of disk
utilities which enable you to format,
examine, copy, and generally mess
around with information on your disks.
The most common uses are to initialise
new disks — this means writing the
tracks and sectors on them and encoding
a certain amount of control information
for use by CP/M — and to make back-up
copies of files so that you can recover
from spilling beer on your master disk,
for example. Another useful facility
allows you to find out how much space
is left on a disk. CP/M is often called
an operating system and there are lots
of manufacturers around who claim
that their operating system is better
than CP/M. Better they may be, but the
fact is that on 8-bit machines, CP/M is
the de facto standard and you’d be
wise to check the availability of the
packages you need before going for a
different operating system.
And I’ve not finished yet. CP/M
also includes a couple of programs of
great interest to keen programmers, or
programmers who want to make their
programs run faster. The programs
provided are an editor (ED), an
assembler (ASM) and a debugging tool
(DDT). The editor is an absolute dog
and should only be used if you have to
create programs in assembler language
prior to assembling them into machine
code using the assembler. ASM checks
your program as it tries to translate it
into machine code and if it finds any¬
thing wrong it tells you so. It can’t
detect errors in your program design,
only in your coding. Finally, if your
program doesn’t work as planned then
you can use the Dynamic Debugging
Tool to examine the contents of
various parts of memory and the
registers as you step through the
program. The assembler and DDT are
absolutely fine, but most word
The tiny screen is the O-l’s big drawback.
108 PCW
processing packages will allow you to
edit program files a darned sight more
easily than using ED.
Sticking with system software for the
moment, you get CBasic and MBasic
with the 0-1. There are pretty much the
same language except that you can
execute one as soon as you’ve finished
typing the program and, if it doesn’t
work, quickly amend it and have
another go. The current buzz-phrase
for this approach is ‘quick and dirty’.
If you write a Basic program using the
other version then you have to compile
the program using a Basic compiler.
This takes longer and you can’t really
change the code generated by the
compiler. You have to go back to your
Basic code, change that and then
recompile the program. The compilation
process is similar to, but not the same
as, the- assembly process mentioned
earlier. Why, you might ask, should you
go to all that trouble? The answer is
that the resulting program will run
faster than an interpreted version and
you can also embed identifying infor¬
mation which could trap a copyist
because (s)he is most unlikely to find
it. I ran the Benchmark programs on
MBasic (interpreted) and they were
faster than most machines we’ve tested.
CBasic of course would have been faster
still. Don’t get too excited by these
findings unless you are heavily into
number crunching. The fact is th"t, in
normal processing, the speed of the
machine is completely nullified by the
enormous time it takes for the operator
to respond to the machine’s promptings.
There is another tiny system program
tucked in the disk which allows you to
enter certain constants from time to
time. The first is the speed at which you
set the serial port — 300 or 1200 baud.
The second allows you to change the
screen size — 52, 128 or user-defined
The third allows you to enter the date
and time. The time is accurate to within
a few minutes per day.
That’s taken care of the system
programs provided, now let’s look at the
application programs. First of all,
Wordstar and Mailmerge. Wordstar is
one of the best word processing
packages on the market. On the
Osborne it is a little strange to use,
mainly because of the small screen —
see my earlier comments. Adam has
wisely had the package modified so that
it automatically scrolls sideways as you
are typing text in. He has yet to do that
with the Basic packages but he promises
me that he will. If you’re unfamiliar
with word processing there’s not a lot I
can say here except that it will either
increase your throughput of typed
material or it will improve the quality
of what you write, simply because it is
so easy to ‘craft’ your words until you
get them right. If you really want to get
into word processing, I suggest you read
the April 1981 PCW where we ran an
introductory article on the subject.
Associated with most of the good
word processors is a mailing list facility
which enables you to create and main¬
tain a mailing list. Wordstar is no excep¬
tion to this and it allows you to
incorporate names and addresses in
documents and letters so that they look
as if they were prepared especially for
the person receiving them. Lists can be
sorted and names and addresses extrac¬
ted according to your own chosen
criteria. This is all done using the Mail¬
merge facilities.
Finally we come to Supercalc.
You’ve probably heard of Visicalc,
which is one of the biggest-selling
microcomputer packages. Well, Adam
couldn’t get hold of Visicalc for the
Osborne 1 so he decided to plump for
Supercalc instead. The program makes
good use of the O-l’s ‘shadow’ mode, in
which the screen characters can be dis¬
played at half intensity. The spread¬
sheet grid is displayed in shadow while
the entries are all in full intensity. It
looks very good. Anyone who messes
around with ‘what-if’ calculations will
find this product an absolute boon.
Also, are you one of those people who
makes lots of calculations and at the
end you realise that somewhere, way
back, you’d got something wrong which
messed up every figure derived since?
Using Supercalc, you don’t have to
worry, you just change the offending
number and all the others come right
instantly. An interesting bonus is that
the data file generated by Supercalc
can be edited using Wordstar. I’m sure
that’s useful but I’m not too sure how
useful.
Now on to the ones you pay money
for. I mentioned earlier that a database
would be my next choice of product.
Well, Adam thinks it important too and
he recommends three: DBMS, Condor
and Datastar. Condor and Datastar are
on his approved software list which
means that Osborne will be packaging
and selling them. DBMS you will have
to get direct from your supplier.
Talking of Osborne-approved pro¬
ducts, the company will be maintaining
three lists: one for the USA, one for the
UK and an international one. If you’re a
software writer and you think you’d
like to get your product on to the
Osborne 1 then Adam would like to
receive your documentation first; then,
if he approves, you send him four disks
with the program on. It will be carefully
examined and any comments made.
You will then have to bring it up to the
required standard and Osborne will then
take over the entire production and
marketing effort for the Osborne 1
version. You just sit back and wait for
the royalty cheques to drop through
the letterbox. Adam tells me that
the royalties start high and reduce as
sales increase. His justification for this
approach is that the higher the sales
the more it is due to the efforts of the
Osborne Corporation. In general, Adam
is not too interested in ‘better’ versions
of what he’s already selling because,
apart from anything else, it dissipates
the marketing effort and, if the first
one was adequate for the job, is it really
worth the extra hassle? I’m not sure
how he equates that attitude with the
fact that he’ll be handling two data¬
base packages, unless they’re very
different.
I used almost all of the programs
supplied and most of them worked just
fine for the limited time I could
try them. I did run into trouble once
or twice when I keyed something in; it
was echoed on the screen but then the
most odd things occurred. The only
example that I reproduced was that I’d
get into MBasic, type AUTO in order to
get automatic line numbering and it
would give me SYNTAX ERROR. I’d
try for the third time and it would do
what it should have done all along and
type 10 on the screen. The
problem may be in the MBasic imple¬
mentation or, more likely, I’d got
myself a hardware fault. Adam did say
that there were a few problems with the
review machine’s keyboard. Another
problem I had, and this time I think it
was the MBasic, was that I couldn’t
read programs which I’d previously
saved using the ‘A’ suffix. It behaved
as if I’d saved a null file. Even CP/M’s
TYPE command couldn’t throw any
light on this one. Adam thought I must
have had a duff version of the software.
Documentation
Since Adam Osborne started to make
his way in the world with books,
you should expect a high standard of
documentation. And indeed the
manuals are very well presented. Unfor¬
tunately the almost obligatory glitches
had appeared in the books he supplied
me. I don’t think I encountered a really
serious error — they were things
like leaving out the key symbols when
describing the various key functions
or saying that k=1024 then claiming
that the disks were 102k — they’re not,
they’re 100k. When I pointed this out,
Adam told me that ‘all the manuals
are undergoing scrutiny and finalisation
right now’. All the books will be in a
large paperback format with a glossy
cover and very neat, readable type¬
setting inside. True to form, Adam
couldn’t resist the occasional homily
which I found very refreshing. On the
first page of his Users Reference Guide
he talked about the incompatibility
of the various machines on the market.
He then goes on in brackets — well he
printed the first bracket anyway — ‘This
is a deliberate marketing strategy on
the part of the manufacturers. It is
designed to prevent you shopping
around for programs, accessories or
additional computers once you’ve made
an initial commitment to one of these
products.’ Later on he mentions the
CP/M editor that I dislike so much
‘This editor is primitive and should not
be used. Wordstar is capable of perfor-
PCW 109
OSBORNE 01
ming the same task and is easier to use.
If you really must use the editor,
consult one of the books now available
on CP/M.’ Dead right, squire.
Adam has tried very hard to pitch
the documentation at the first-time
user. In one place he gave the very
sensible advice, ‘Do not try to get the
plastic disk out of the cardboard
envelope or you will destroy the disk’.
Don’t laugh, I’ve heard of people doing
it. Here’s another one: ‘The door on the
drive is closed and opened in the same
way as you would open and close an
overhead garage door.’ Isn’t that nice?
He’s actually remembered his most
likely audience, the person who’s never
used a machine before.
Every package is fully documented,
sometimes in the User Reference Guide,
otherwise in its own separate manual.
The only thing that was missing that
interested me was a full technical speci¬
fication of the Osborne 1. You don’t
need it to use the machine but it would
be of interest to the curious, or to
Benchtesters like me. The CP/M over¬
view section of the User Reference book
is clearer than most books on the
subject although it doesn’t try to go too
deep with some of the more obscure
facilities. I picked up a tip that I
suppose I should have realised but
didn’t — you shouldn’t use SAVE more
than once since memory contents can
be changed as a result of SAVEing.
The MBasic manual has simply been
reset because Adam is obliged to retain
the original wording until the end of
this year. He’ll then look at it and
change it where necessary. This manual
is not at ail bad, though, so it shouldn’t
be a problem. In general, all the docu¬
mentation will be brought up to the
company’s house style before publica¬
tion.
Incidentally, I should give you the
address of Osborne Computers: Osborne
Computer Corporation, 26500
Corporate Avenue, Hayward, California
94545, telephone (415) 887 8080.
Users
Who’d use it? My guess is anyone who is
taking computing a bit seriously and
who either doesn’t mind a small screen
or who is prepared to forgo a little
portability in favour of a separate
monitor. The price is good, the facilities
offered are more than adequate and,
because he’s plumped for CP/M, plenty
of packages will be quickly available.
The sort of dealers that Adam is
encouraging are the sort that tradi¬
tionally sell to the professionals and
these are exactly the sort of people that
the machine is aimed at. In fact, Adam
defines the users as ‘professional people
using it in the course of their daily
work’. It certainly isn’t a fun and games
machine, although I’m sure that a lot of
games will sneak their way onto O-ls.
The easiest way for me to describe the
market is anyone other than the fun and
games, colour and hi-res graphics
brigades. I must admit I’m not too sure
about number crunching, speed and
accuracy either. You’ll have to check
this out for yourself.
Prices and
delivery
The only price we have in the UK is
‘not more than £1200’ (excluding
VAT) for the Osborne 1 with all its
standard software (CP/M, CBasic,
MBasic, Wordstar, Mailmerge and Super¬
calc). The price will be reviewed every
three months to take account of the
exchange rate between the pound and
the dollar. With a bit of luck the price
should only go down.
In the USA the monitor costs $250
and the Osborne $1795. If the same
ratio pertains this would make the
monitor £170 in the UK. Delivery at
present is between three and six
months; Adam says this should improve
to between off-the-shelf and 30 days
by next summer. I’d say this rather
depends on demand.
At the moment a 90-day warranty is
offered but Osborne realises that this
will have to be a year for the UK
market so it will be changed. In the
USA, 90 days is standard.
The UK dealerships that I know of
are: Rank Xerox, Datron, Crystal
Electronics, Cambridge Computer Store,
Co mart / Xitan / Byte Shop/ Computer-
land, Adda Computers, Lion House and
Microdigital. Other decisions are
pending and we’ll let you know as soon
as we’re told.
Adam plans to open a UK office with
a UK person in charge. I know one of
the people being considered and, if
he’s anything to go by, it will be a very
professional organisation. The staff will
be mainly British and they’ll be given a
lot of autonomy. We’ll keep you
posted on these developments as well.
Future plans
In early 1982 we should be seeing a new
case. This time it will be made of
injection-moulded plastic foam in a
‘clam shell’ arrangement. This means
that the inside will be much more
accessible for engineers and nosey
users. The quaint carrying handle will
disappear to be replaced by one mould¬
ed into the case. The machine will be
lower as a result of having a thinner
keyboard unit and it’s expected to
weigh about a pound less. The bezel
is expected to be prettier too.
A battery pack is currently under
development and the most likely
arrangement will be a large flat unit
which forms a false bottom to the
Osborne 1. Adam expects this to be
available by January or February
1982.
Dual-density disk drives should be
announced in November or December
and communication facilities in six
months or so for the UK. An 80-column
screen with user-defined graphics and a
52-column option is also likely to
appear in the near future.
Finally, don’t just expect upgrades
to be up. Adam is well aware of the
potential mass market opportunities
for small domestic machines. He hinted
at smaller Osbornes as well as bigger
ones.
Conclusion
I suppose I’ve said it all in the Users’
section. The machine is well made,
offers more facilities than any other
machine at the price and suffers one
enormous drawback: the screen
measures just 5in diagonally. This isn’t
a problem for occasional use — an hour
or two even — but I’d hate to use it
continuously. To overcome this
problem, a 12in monitor is available and
I would suggest that you keep this
where you’d use the machine most.
Making such a sophisticated machine
portable was a really neat idea. I think,
though, that there will be a lot of wives
up and down the country who’ll
roundly curse Adam Osborne for what
he’s done.
Getting the thing going is a doddle —
easier than filling a kettle and plugging
it in. You’ll need a printer — most
people I know use the Epson MX-80
and it offers excellent value at far less
than £500. Adam Osborne also uses the
same printer on his machine, so it would
seem ideal. You’ll also need disks and
stationery to get under way. And then
you’re in business. I recommend that
you consider this machine very seriously
among your options.
Benchmark
timings
There is nothing wrong with the
Osborne’s performance on our
standard Benchmarks. It came out
faster overall than most other
machines we’ve tested. You must
remember though that these tests
relate mainly to the computer’s
numerical processing speed and take
no account of accuracy, string handl¬
ing or disk handling. The other thing
to bear in mind is that computers
spend most of their time waiting for
information to be transferred
between themselves and their peri¬
pheral devices. Timings were made
using MBasic. CBasic would have
returned still faster times.
All times in seconds.
BM1
1.4
BM2
4.4
BM3
11.7
BM4
11.6
BM5
12.3
BM6
21.9
BM7
34.9
BM8
6.1
Memory map
0000 System read only space;
part switches to ROM in
shadow mode
4000 Post processing sequence &
data buffer RAM
EA00 CBIOS entry points
F000 Memory-mapped video
RAM
FFFF Top of memory
In shadow mode the memory up
to 4000H isn’t available when
CBIOS is operating. To get into and
out of shadow memory mode you
need to OUT 0 or 1 coupled with a
change to location EF08H making
that 0 or 1 too. These routines must
be above location 4000H.
110 PCW
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FORGET
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ORDER
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Y'TV'V'v
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A
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ON YOUR ZX80 & ZX8
TOTALLY FLICKER FREE • 3 LEVELS OF PLAY IN EACH GAME
Absolutely no flicker. You don't need to press any
thing for the display to move!
From easy to dangerously difficult — you'll find it
hard to resist the challenge time after time!
MOVING GRAPHICS • MACHINE LANGUAGE
No hardware modifications are necessary to get
moving graphics. Just follow the instructions for cassette
loading and off you go, no extra memory needed.
These programs are written in the computer's own
language — only this way is it possible for continuous,
flicker free action to occur.
ALL PROGRAMS ON CASSETTE • FITS IK BASIC MACHINE
Loads just like any other program on cassette. Each
tape contains instructions on how best to load the
cassette.
SUPER INVASION
is the machine language game you and your
Sinclair have been waiting for. Cruel and crafty invaders have been spotted
in battle formation ready to attack with your ship just below them! Quickly
and skilfully you shift right and left as you carefully fire your lasers at them.
But watch out — they are accurate! 3 levels from easy to almost impossible
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Amazing as it is, all these moving graphics programs
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The excitement is just beginning!!
TRS 80 Levels I & II16K Tape £10
Video Genie 16K Tape £10
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DOUBLE BREAKOUT
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The newest and most exciting invaders
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TRS 80 Levels I & II16K Tape £10
Video Genie 16K Tape £10
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SHARP IQ3100
MKROTHANSIATOR
John Fairbairn tests the latest in pocket translators.
As a professional linguist, I am usually
assumed to pour scorn on phrase-books
or their silicon-chip equivalents. But I,
and especially my stomach, have fright¬
ful memories of a stay in Hungary, the
one country I have been to where I did
not have at least a smattering of the
language. The only word I knew was
for ice-cream — and that is the only
thing I was given that was edible. I soon
acquired an image of Hungary as a surly
and depressing place, and I couldn’t
wait to get over the border to Czecho¬
slovakia and “civilisation”.
I have no doubt now that I am being
unfair to a beautiful country, but to me
civilisation is based on communication
and anything that helps that along is a
blessing. For example, the Sharp
IQ3100 Microtranslator.
After testing this new machine for a
month round the tourist haunts of
London, I am happy to say it’s fun and
it works and it’s the best around. At
about <£70 plus £18 for each language
module it’s not exactly cheap, unless
you can set it against tax, but it’s cer¬
tainly a novel way to chat up the
opposite sex.
First impressions of the IQ3100 were
highly favourable: sleek, robust, and
genuinely pocket-sized. Those feelings
soon changed to abject terror after I
read the first five pages of the otherwise
satisfactory instruction book. To para¬
phrase them: unless you handle the tiny
language modules with the skill of a
brain surgeon, that’s £18 up the spout. I
managed to get two modules, the
maximum, into the machine safely but
put that down to the clove of garlic in
my back pocket. But once the modules
were in, the machine confirmed its
robust impression, even when rammed
into a shoulder bag on a crowded tube
train.
In use
Then it was idiot’s test time: press every
button in sight and see what happens.
The machine responded at once — but
not in the obvious way. To get the thing
to translate anything you have to read
the instruction book; which means you
can’t accost a stranger, tap out a ques¬
tion for him, and then pass the machine
to him for a reply — a serious design
fault with no obvious solution.
Other design niggles were the alpha¬
betically ordered keyboard (though, of
course, it has to be that way for other
countries), the wrist strap which surely
should be at the top right corner, and
the display, which is the liquid crystal
type seen in the Sharp PC-1211 pocket
computer (24 characters, 7x5 dot
matrix, all upper case). This display is
attractive, especially when it rotates to
show long sentences (using the DSP
key). However, at certain angles it looks
blank and if you point the machine at
someone in the street in bright sunlight
you are apt (I speak from experience) to
get some very funny looks.
Another difficulty with the display
is that letter ‘O’ and number ‘0’ are not
differentiated (they are only slightly so
on the keyboard). But the box of tricks
inside does differentiate, and if you ask
for a DOCTOR with zeroes instead of
vowels you might be dead before you
realise why it won’t translate.
Once the machine is powered up
(using the non-rechargeable one-year
battery provided), you choose the
languages to work in. English is built in
and you can add one or two of the
eight other languages so far available:
Dutch, French, German, Italian,
Japanese (in romanised or kana forms),
Portuguese, Spanish or Swedish. The
modules are easy to change — provided
you take care!
You press the LNG key repeatedly
until arrows point to the two languages
you want (little stickers are provided for
two vacant slots after SPA for the rare
languages), then press the double-arrow
Key to alternate the arrows on the
display pointing ‘from’ and ‘to’ a
language.
You then have a choice of typing in a
word or sequence of words and trans¬
lating that (pressing TRN), or of
pressing the SNT/WRD key to set the
machine to a category mode. In that
mode you can choose sentences or
words (by one or two presses of SNT/
WRD). The category most appropriate,
one of 14 clearly labelled round the out¬
side (plane, Customs, transport, hotel,
restaurant, sightseeing. amusement,
shopping, direction, business, service,
conversation, doctor, emergency) is
chosen by pressing the key next to the
symbol. For example, using sentences,
pressing S (restaurant) brings the
display DO YOU HAVE A (BAR)?
You can accept this sentence or
search through all the sentences in that
category (11 in this case) by pressing
SCH. Stepping through SCH in this
ategory gives next:
i DO NOT HAVE A RESERVATION
I WANT (A TABLE) FOR (7)
till I i«^N(
‘ Amazing! It speaks Japanese before
you load it!’
The IQ3100
114 PCW
WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?
PLEASE GIVE ME (A GIN FIZZ)
You can change any word in brackets
(if there are two sets of brackets, use
the key () to alternate between them)
simply by typing in the new word, as
the first key-stroke wipes out what was
in brackets and the replacement letters
are displayed inside them. This business
can be made to work smoothly, but
consider first one of the worst cases:
you want a book. You find the gin-fizz
phrase, which takes about 25 seconds
after switching on, then type in A
BOOK (at least 10 seconds), press TRN,
wait for five seconds and, hey presto,
you get DONNEZ-MOI (UN(UNE)
LIVRE(LIRE)) S.V.P. from the French
module. If this silly attempt to avoid
saying ‘give me a pound’ instead of ‘give
me a book’ could be justified on the
grounds of avoiding arrest for vagrancy
in Paris, good enough; but I think the
excessive preoccupation with the prob¬
lem of multiple meanings or genders
betrays the conceit of the linguists
behind the modules. The problem is
there and has to be met, particularly
because it is the commonest words
that tend to have multiple meanings,
but it seems reasonable to allow a fair
measure of ambiguity, even more so
when I tell you that you can’t use
plurals or other noun declensions or
decline verbs or change tenses — in
short, you get a pretty peculiar output,
anyway. But it still works — so why
worry about one more peculiarity?
If you made a mistake and didn’t
want to ask for a book, but had already
typed that, it would take you about 30
seconds to step round back to the gin-
fizz phrase. I’m sure you realise by this
time that you have to be pretty familiar
The language modules plug in at the back.
with the whereabouts of all these
phrases.
Why not just type in your request
straight off, without going through the
category mode? Answer: input GIVE
ME A NEWSPAPER gives output
DONNER ME UN(UNE) NEWSPAPER.
This is because it will translate literally
word for word or set-phrase for set-
phrase only, with no attempt to change
word order or to make any other gram¬
matical concessions. And if you try a
word that’s not in the 2000 or so words
of the memory that word is left un¬
translated, usually with the addition of
‘!!’ - and always in the case of rude
words.
The box of tricks is, therefore, little
more than a program for retrieving data
from a file. Some idea of how this
works can be inferred from another
feature, the dictionary search. Type in
an initial letter or letters and by pressing
SCH you can step through all the
words in the memory that begin that
way. Until these machines become as
familiar in use as calculators are, almost
the only way to find out what a
foreigner is saying is to try to pick out
the first letter of the most important
word (the one he keeps repeating or
shouting), type that in, then point the
machine at him while you step through
the dictionary, hoping what he’s saying
is in there.
I said earlier that all this can work
quite smoothly, but you probably don’t
believe me. The point is, you use these
machines in a spirit of fun or despera¬
tion, but at any rate time or egg-on-face
will not be your main worries, and it is
amazing how much you can murder a
language and still be understood. You
do become faniliar with the machine,
and learn what kinds of sentences or
words it will find digestible (a sort of
basic English). The selection of words
in the memory bank is excellent, apart
from a few words like gin-fizz and
Americanisms. To take one category,
Customs: I asked Customs officers at
Heathrow what they thought of the
sentences and words relating to their
work, and they thought they were very
apt. No one has yet tried a machine on
them.
Above all, don’t forget that the
IQ3100 can be used as a back-up when
you already know a little of the
language. It is an invaluable dictionary
(and very fast when used exclusively
that way), with the 2000 words being
far in excess of the 800-odd words that
were used successfully to render
Chambers Dictionary of Science into
basic English, and not too much below
the specialist dictionaries of around
3000 words used in many mainframe
machine-translation projects.
jConclusion
Sharp’s IQ3100 is by no means the first
pocket electronic phrase-book, nor are
GOTO page 182
PCW 115
The much-rumoured IBM Personal Computer was finally announced last month and, just to make
sure it really exists, PCW sent David Tehbutt to Florida to conduct the world’s first Benchtest and to
meet the people who made it happen.
With more than a little help from its
friends, IBM has come up with a real
stunner of a personal computer and,
much to PCW 's delight, it has named it
the IBM Personal Computer, which
must surely remove any lingering doubts
about this magazine’s title. The system
has much to commend it both for
serious and fun applications since it can
grow from a fairly expensive cassette-
based configuration to a full-blown
twin disk/colour graphics machine
which offers the competition a fair run
for its money. It almost goes without
saying that the computer is well made,
keeping up IBM’s almost legendary
reputation for quality.
After watching the growing personal
computer industry very carefully, IBM
finally cranked its own Personal
Computer project into action around
14 months ago. The public was becom¬
ing aware of the usefulness of these
machines and prices were dropping to
an affordable level; this was enough for
the grey giant and it made its move.
By swearing certain key people and
companies to utter secrecy, IBM was
able to discuss its plans and listen to
those who already knew what the
microcomputer game was all about.
Microsoft, for example, was involved
right from the beginning and was able
to give a lot of help, particularly with
the graphics and sound facilities. Later
on, once a design was fairly clear,
ComputerLand became involved and
advised on aspects of dealer support and
training. Sears, Roebuck was ap¬
proached, too, and was particularly
helpful when it came to packaging the
products for the retail outlet.
The machine will be sold in America
through IBM’s own Products Centres,
through sales offices within its Data
Processing Division (DPD), through
ComputerLand’s existing network of
some 170 shops and through Sears"
about-to-be-opened business machine
stores. At the moment the system will
only be sold in the USA and Canada and
IBM will not say when, if ever, it will
come to Britain. Since demand is bound
to be very high in North America, IBM
will clearly have to gear up its manufact¬
uring and distribution quite significantly
before we will see any systems in this
country.
Hardware
The minimum configuration Personal
Computer comes in two parts: a
clear display of 25 rows of 80 characters
or you may prefer to buy your own
colour monitor or even use the domestic
TV, each of which gives an option of
24 rows of either 40 or 80 characters.
The graphics resolution is not as good in
colour as it is on the IBM display. In
fact, each character is 7 x 7 dots in an
8x8 box compared with 7 x 9 in a 9 x
14 box for the monochrome display.
IBM does issue a warning that certain
televisions and monitors (not its own)
can cause data errors on disk transfers.
It suggests the solution is to have the
screen at least 12in away from the
system unit. In order to drive these
colour devices you would need to plug a
colour/graphics monitor adaptor into
one of the spare expansion slots. This
board supports colour graphics — up to
16 colours in text mode, up to four in
medium resolution graphics (320 x 200)
and black and white in high resolution
mode (640 x 200); it also allows you to
define 128 graphics characters of your
own when using either of the graphics
modes. The board is also designed to
handle a light pen. Composite and
direct drive video outputs are provided
to drive a colour monitor but for your
domestic TV you’d have to buy an RF
modulator as well.
The IBM monochrome monitor is a
very high quality llVfein green phosphor
device with an anti-glare screen. It gives
a rock-steady display with no trace of
flickering or that high-pitched whistling
System Unit, which houses the memory,
processor, loudspeaker, power supply
and expansion slots and a keyboard,
which is connected to the system unit
with a six-foot coiled flex terminating in
a DIN plug. One or two 5*Ain disk
drives can be installed in the front of
the system unit and up to five optional
enhancement cards can be plugged into
the slots. A monitor or domestic tele¬
vision is needed and, for those without
disks, a domestic tape recorder with a
DIN connection will be necessary 7 too.
IBM supplies an Epson printer as its
standard listing device although there’s
no reason why you shouldn’t attach a
printer of your own choosing. In use,
the monitor would probably sit on the
System Unit while the keyboard could
be used on a table or on your lap. Two
little lugs allow the keyboard to tilt
when on a flat surface and they tuck
away if you’re using it on your lap. The
whole design is very pleasing and all
the parts clearly belong together.
Everything about the IBM system is
designed with a first-time user in mind.
The company has gone overboard to
make the system as easy as possible to
configure and use with one of the main
aims presumably being to minimise IBM
and dealer post-sale involvement. Two
screws secure the top of the system unit
and, once removed, it is a simple matter
to add memory, plug-in boards or even
disk drives. IBM supplies a mono¬
chrome monitor with a very steady,
which sometimes occurs. The steadiness
is achieved by using a high-persistence
phosphor coating which takes a fraction
of a second longer to clear than most
screens, although I can think of one or
two machines which are far, far worse.
In normal use it’s doubtful that you’d
even notice it. The screen displays 25
lines of 80 characters and each character
is beautifully formed thanks to the high
resolution mentioned earlier. IBM has
taken advantage of all eight bits of the
character code by adding a ninth bit
for parity checking. This means that
255 different characters are offered,
ranging from little faces through the
standard ASCII set to special characters
for foreign currency, mathematics and
graphics. A separate byte associated
with each screen character is used to
describe the character’s status — whether
it is underlined, enhanced, flashing, non¬
display ed or reversed. An interesting
feature of the character set is that the
business graphics — the ones used to dis¬
play forms on the screen — comprise a
mixture of single and double line shapes
which makes for very neat and compact
form layouts.
The monitor plugs into a mono¬
chrome display and the printer adaptor,
which occupies one of the expansion
slots. If you’re using the Epson printer
then you won’t need to buy an extra
card to drive it as it plugs into this same
card. If you’d gone for colour then
you’d need a separate printer adaptor.
There’s no reason why you shouldn’t
drive a variety of displays, or even a
variety of printers if you feel so inclined.
The standard device is the Epson MX-80
tractor feed machine which has had
some soundproofing installed and the
wire paper guide sprayed in the official
IBM colour. It offers 12 different
character styles and (according to the
documentation) 64 graphic characters
plus nine special characters as well as
the standard 96 character ASCII set. It
will handle multi-part (up to three,
anyway) forms between 4in and lOin
wide. You can buy an optional printer
stand which is a very neat smoky
perspex unit which can store an inch or
two deep stack of continuous stationery.
It does have the slight disadvantage of
amplifying the printer noise so you’d
have to trade off noise against neatness.
The stand is a rectangular piece of
perspex bent back on itself, each half
being separated by plastic pillars 3in or
so high. This simple design was cooked
up by an IBM engineer who felt that the
programmers’ own design of three or
four bricks was somewhat less than
elegant. One thing you’ll notice from
the price list is that the printer comes
without a cable — you have to buy it
separately at S55.
The ‘typamatic’ keyboard is a work
of art. Offering tactile feedback and
automatic repeating on certain keys, it
contains every key you could ever
imagine using, all in a well-designed unit
which clearly owes a lot to IBM’s exper¬
ience in typewriter design. The only
thing I disliked was that the shift keys
were hard to find because they are
located above a couple of other keys.
To a non-typist this wouldn’t cause the
slightest problem but anyone used to
a keyboard may experience some
difficulty at first. Apart from the
standard typewriter keys, it has 10
function keys, some assorted control
keys and a separate numeric/editing
keypad — 83 keys in all. The keyboard
is a low, flat unit which weighs a surpris¬
ing six pounds. I found out later that
IBM actually put a heavy metal plate
in purely to stop it sliding around.
It’s that kind of attention to detail that
characterises the design of this machine.
A numeric lock and a caps lock do
exactly what you might suspect but
when the numeric pad is not locked it
acts as an editing keypad with insert,
delete, cursor left, right, up and down,
page up and down, home and end funct¬
ions. A touch on the control key and
the character functions operate on
whole word instead. You will have pro¬
bably gathered from this that full screen
editing is standard. The mathematical
symbols appear in their normal places as
well as on separate keys so that they can
be accessed without the need to use a
shift key. Tabbing can be both forward
and backward and a ‘Prtscr’ key allows
you to dump text from the screen to
the printer. When programming in Basic,
you can print most of the commonly
used commands by hitting a single key
with the ‘ALT’ key depressed. The 10
function keys are defined to give single
stroke facilities such as SAVE and
LOAD and you may redefine them by
using the KEY command in Basic. By
judicious use of the shift, alt and
control keys it is possible to access 40
facilities from the function keys. A
mysterious key called ‘Scroll Lock’
doesn’t actually do anything.
The Benchtest systems each had two
disk drives horizontally mounted in the
front of the system unit. These looked
suspiciously like the drives in my Super-
Brain although IBM wouldn’t confirm
or deny this other than to say that it
might obtain disk drives from more than
one source. Each disk has a capacity of
160 kbytes held in 40 tracks each of
8 x 512-byte sectors. The drives are
quite accessible even when the keyboard
is pushed up close. A sensible feature is
that the disk drives automatically switch
off when they haven’t been accessed
for a second or two.
Tucked away inside the system unit
is an 8088 processor which has an
internal 16-bit structure, 8-bit data
transfer and a 20-bit memory address¬
ing capability. The 8-bit data bus means
that the 8088 is compatible with the
popular 8080/8085 processors’ support
circuits while the 20-bit addressing
means that the processor is capable of
accessing up to one megabyte of
memory. An interesting gap on the
processor board tells me that the IBM
can accommodate an auxiliary processor
— a floating point arithmetic processor
or a mass memory/large scale communi¬
cations handler perhaps?
The Personal Computer gives the user
from 16k to 256k of RAM plus 4k or
16k of display memory on the adapter
card, depending on whether it’s for
monochrome or colour. Up to 64k is
held on the processor board and
additional memory in 32k or 64k plug¬
in expansion boards. Since only five
slots are available it would pay to go
The IBM's display: \ . . each character is beautifully formed
Rear view of the System Unit
PCW 117
for the 64k upgrades if at all possible.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if one of
the early announcements isn’t an exter¬
nal expansion box to take more plug-in
option cards.
Other cards currently available are a
game control adaptor and an asynchro¬
nous communications adaptor. The
game controller will accept two joysticks
or four paddles which you’ll have to
buy from outside. The communications
adaptor seems to me to be a complicat¬
ed way of describing an RS232C/current
loop interface which can be driven at
speeds between 50 and 9600 baud. IBM
intends to provide a subset of full 3270
emulation capability which should
excite the odd DP manager here and
there.
Working through a typical configur¬
ation, we find that a colour/graphics
card takes one slot, the printer another
and the disk drives another. This leaves
two slots free for games, communicat¬
ions and extra memory (up to 64k can
be on the processor board and another
16k is on the graphics adaptor). I’d
say that this package will suit 99.9
percent of intending purchasers’ require¬
ments. The remaining 0.1 percent will
have to compromise, buy another
machine or wait for an announcement
of an expansion box.
Microsoft’s Cassette Basic interpreter
is contained in 40k of ROM with some
fundamental I/O routines and is stan¬
dard in every Personal Computer sold.
Basic enhancements and the Disk
Operating System (DOS) are loaded
from disk.
Every peripheral is interrupt-driven,
which means that when a particular
device is not doing anything, it is
ignored. Once it has something to say
then it interrupts the processor to
demand attention. The processor then
finishes whatever it happens to be doing
at that instant, serves the interrupting
device and then gets back to whatever
it was doing before. This makes pro¬
gramming much easier and also makes
the machine run significantly faster by
avoiding ‘waiting time’. The Benchmark
timings weren’t designed to highlight
this sort of activity so, although they’re
fast, they’re nothing extraordinary.
Somewhere between hardware and
software lies the firmware which is the
stuff that gives the Personal Computer
its native intelligence before any
programs have been loaded from outside.
What follows is a bit of a pot-pourri
of facilities thus offered.
The first thing the system does at
switch-on is to run its own internal
diagnostic routines to make sure that
everything is working okay. Once
complete, the machine ‘peeps’ through
the loudspeaker and allows you to load
programs or whatever. It is also intern¬
ally programmed to react to certain key
combinations. For example, if you want
to ‘re-boot’ the DOS, the system will
recognise a simultaneous depression of
the ESC, ALT and DEL keys. CTL with
Numlock is a toggle which suspends and
restarts program execution while CTL
with Prtscr is another toggle which
causes an echo to the printer. The key¬
board has a 16-character buffer which is
pretty exciting when using the word
processor — you have to keep a careful
count of the number of times you hit
the delete key! This buffer size can be
changed but I’m assured that it’s a ‘non¬
trivial’ exercise.
Software
The IBM Personal Computer is supplied
with a Cassette Basic developed by
Microsoft and all the other packages are
sold as extras. IBM will divide its soft¬
ware packages into the following groups:
Professional, Business, Word Processing,
Entertainment, Personal, Education,
Computer Languages and Software
Series. Each is coded with a pleasant
colour, mainly pastel shades with the
exception of Entertainment which is
black. The colour is used on all doc¬
umentation and packaging for products
within that particular theme. While I
was Benchtesting the machine, the only
products actually available were Disk
Basic, Advanced Basic, DOS, EasyWriter,
VisiCalc, Adventure, General Ledger,
Accounts Payable (Purchase Ledger),
Accounts Receivable (Sales Ledger)
and (I think) the Communications
Package and Pascal Compiler. I didn’t
actually get to see either of the last two
packages in action.
IBM didn’t see any point in starting
software development from scratch so it
went to those companies whose
products and people best met its own
criteria and together they produced
the IBM versions of the packages.
Microsoft published the Basics, the
Pascal compiler, the DOS and the
Adventure game, Personal Software
published Visicalc, Information Un¬
limited Software published Easywriter,
Peachtree Software was responsible for
the ledger packages and it looks as if
IBM devised the communications soft¬
ware. I’ll deal with the application
programs first.
Visicalc is a hotted-up version of
the program we’ve grown to know and
love. It now allows you to edit parts
of fields, handle tables and move
around much faster than on the previous
versions I’d seen. You can also choose
between a 40-column or an 80-column
display. On the domestic TV you’d
almost certainly have to go for the
40-column display.
Easywriter is an interesting word
processing package because it is entirely
memory resident. This means that
individual text files can’t exceed 18,500
characters (this Benchtest so far is
around 15,000 characters) but to comp¬
ensate for this, a linking function allows
Easywriter to treat a number of separate
files as a single file for reporting pur¬
poses. Once I got the hang of it, I found
this package quite pleasant to use and I
think that many people will find it
offers all the facilities they’re likely to
need. It is possible to move blocks of
text around, to do word counts and
even to undelete stuff provided you
haven’t moved the cursor since the
delete took place. Even my lovely Spell-
Binder doesn’t offer the last two
functions.
Adventure is the standard Microsoft
game in which you have to overcome
obstacles in an underground network of
caves while collecting as much treasure
as you can manage. At the moment the
game is entirely textual, which is un¬
fortunate, but I suspect that within the
next few years it will be on video
disks and, boy, will we have some fun
then!
The ledgers are all designed for the
American market and are therefore of
little use here. All I’ll say is that they’ve
been professionally produced and give
a good indication of the software
standards that IBM is going for.
Basic
The built-in cassette Basic is a superset
of Microsoft’s Basic-80. It allows you to
use all 256 characters, to plot in
medium or high resolution graphics,
play sounds through the loudspeaker
and control light pens and joysticks
as well as doing all the things that
Basic-80 does. It can handle up to 17-
digit precision, full floating — point
arithmetic. It does borrow 4k of user
memory to operate. If you move on to
the Disk Basic you’ll find that it uses
24k of memory plus an extra 1.5k
if you want to use the communications
facilities as well. In addition to every¬
thing offered by Cassette Basic, this
version allows you to handle disk-based
files, to keep track of the date and time,
to handle two additional printers and to
drive an RS232 port.
The Advanced Basic pinches 29k of
user memory, again with an extra 1.5k
if you’re into communications, and it
offers everything the Disk Basic does
plus some additional features. This is
the one that allows you to handle
interrupts from the function keys, a
joystick button, the light pen or the
communications line. It also includes
a graphics macro language which offers
statements such as CIRCLE, PUT, GET,
PAINT and DRAW. A music macro lan-
118 PCW
guage allows you to create music and
sound effects quite easily through PLAY
statements and musical notation written
in English. Since the functions within th
macro languages are all written i
machine code they operate at very higi
speeds. The only Basic overhead is the
execution of the single statement
calling the routine. Some neat effects
can be achieved using the graphics
macros GET and PUT which handle the
transfer of arrays to and from the screen.
The trick is to define a shape on the
screen, imagine a box around it and
define this as a two-dimensional array to
be saved. A GET saves the array and a
PUT will redisplay it wherever you like.
If you PUT an array to the same posit¬
ion twice using an XOR argument this
removes the array image and restores
the original background. The sequence
for animation then becomes PUT to the
screen with XOR, calculate the new
position, PUT to the screen at the old
location (using XOR) and then repeat
the process for the new location.
Another neat trick can be played if
you’re in text mode. You can define an
active page and a visual page. This
means that one screen can be on display
while your program is busily changing
another page ready for display. Sound
too, offers some potential because
having initiated the playing process, the
system gets on with it while you do
something else. This means that if yor
want to play a musical background t
a game, for example, then you can,
regardless of what is happening on
the screen and keyboard.
The first 40 characters of all variable
names are significant. This means that
the novice programmer can describe the
variables in full. After a while, of course,
he’ll realise how much , space is being
gobbled up and will then either have to
cut down on eloquent names or buy
more memory. With 256k I don’t
suppose that long variable names wouF
be a problem.
Since Microsoft Basic is pretty well
the standard these days I think I’ll
leave you with those few tantalising
glimpses of the extra facilities and
move on to the DOS.
DOS
No, this isn’t the same DOS as on the
IBM mainframes. Some people call j f
PC-DOS just to differentiate but I
stick to DOS for this article. Not su.
prisingly, it is similar to CP/M in its
range of facilities but to the user it is
a whole lot more friendly. For example,
if you want to copy files in CP/M, you
have to load the PIP facility and then
give the necessary instruction to PIP. In
DOS you simply type COPY, the file
to be copied and the new file name. In
PIP it’s back-to-front — you have to start
with the new file name and follow with
the old file name.
Other DOS functions allow you to
copy a whole disk, compare the
contents of two files or a pair of disks,
erase files, rename files, format a disk,
list the contents of a disk, type the
contents of a file and put the DOS on to
another disk. Nothing unusual about
that I hear you say. Well, that’s true
except that all the instructions are near
enough in English, eg DISKCOPY.
But then we come to the other
facilities: you can invoke batch files,
issue messages and prompts (for DATE
and TIME) while they are run¬
ning and even pause and restart their
operation. MODE allows you to define
screen and printer characteristics and if
you don’t like the position of the dis¬
play on the screen, you can scroll it
sideways a column at a time until it
suits your monitor or TV. CHKDSK
examines the chosen disk and gives a
status report. If you name a file AUTO¬
EXEC. BAT it will be executed on boot¬
up and it can be either a program
or a job stream (batch).
DOS will work on a single disk drive
system, issuing appropriate prompts for
the user to change disks when necessary.
Other programs available on the DOS
disk are a relocatable module linker,
an editor and a debugger. IBM refuses
to comment on the likelihood of an
Assember. I saw enough clues to make
me think it’s a strong possibility very
soon. A diagnostic disk is available
which allows the user to run his own
diagnostic routines, the results of which
he can analyse from the descriptions
given in the manual. Although I’ve not
covered the DOS in detail, you can see
that it provides everything that a user
is likely to need.
Looking at it from the programmer’s
point of view was a little difficult
without an assembler. The FCB is in
two parts — the first seven bytes act
as a prefix to a 35-byte FCB. The first
11 bytes of the main FCB tally with the
CP/M version but after that either the
terminology differs or the actual con¬
tents are different — I can’t be sure.
They do actually look different to me
although they’re the same length. I
was told that although the DOS has its
own entry points, it is possible to use
all the CP/M calls as well. It looks as
if IBM is making it as easy as possible
to convert from CP/M to DOS on the
Personal Computer. It will be inter¬
esting to see what CP/M-86 has to offer
when it comes along.
Documentation
All the IBM documentation is excellent.
It comes in a series of colour-coded,
cloth-bound three ring binders which
fit into matching cloth-covered boxes.
If you buy a game or a package which
doesn’t justify the full treatment, then
you get a plastic wallet, four of which
just happen to fit into one of the
boxes I just mentioned. Each box,
which can be bought separately,
measures about 8in x 2in x 9V2in high.
In the seven or eight hours I spent read¬
ing the manuals, I only found one error
and that was in the dealer’s product
guide. Considering that IBM has only
been working on the project for 14
months, I think it’s a remarkable
achievement. Mind you, I do wonder
how many staff it’s had beavering away
— no one would tell me.
The manuals are very well written,
and IBM must have really thought about
the target audience before writing each
document because they start off talk¬
ing about 4096 chars but by the time
you reach the Basic manual it cheerfully
uses 4k, knowing that you must have
grown accustomed to some of the
jargon by then. All the manuals are very
clear and seem to cover all the ground
necessary. They have indexes and tables
of contents and appendices to save you
diving around all over the show if all
you need is a quick reference. Error
messages are clearly explained with the
appropriate actions suggested.
A ‘Guide to Operations’ and a Basic
manual are supplied with the machine.
The ‘Guide to Operations’ includes sect¬
ions on setting up the machine, operat¬
ing it, ‘Problem Determination’, install¬
ation of options and how to move it
from one location to another. Another
example of IBM’s attention to detail is
the fact it supplies its disks with re¬
inforcing rings and some don’t have
notches so that you can’t accidentally
overwrite them.
Who’d use it?
The television advertisement uses a
Charlie Chaplin look-alike, presumably
to hook every viewer. The emphasis is
on simplicity, ease of installation and
fun. The music and the voice-over
reminded me of the Disney wild-life
films where the music changes accord¬
ing to the screen activity and through¬
out a very friendly voice explains what’s
going on. In the beginning there’s
‘Charlie’ sitting on a white chair at a
white table with a room-sized white
box gradually shrinking before his eyes.
The narrator says things like ‘Once upon
a time a computer was the size of a
room’ and, as it shrinks, he describes
how IBM kept making them smaller
until you could pick them up. At this
point ‘Charlie’ picks up the machine
and takes it over to his table where he
unpacks it, assembles it and starts
tapping the keyboard. All this is done
with grossly exaggerated gestures of
course. The final shot is of this rather
nice machine sitting on the table next to
a vase containing a single rose. Very
warm, very friendly, very simple and a
bit of fun too. More evidence of IBM’s
seriousness and attention to detail.
There’s not a threatening moment in
the whole ad.
IBM sees its Personal Computer being
used in the home, the office, the lab¬
oratory and the school. It goes further
and defines its users as small businesses,
the self-employed, departmental users,
home users and hobbyists. It seems
they’ve covered just about everyone
there, doesn’t it? I’m not too sure about
the hobbyist being able to afford the
machine at the moment. All the hobby¬
ists I know are beavering away on low
budget equipment with half the fun
being to make these puny systems really
perform. I’m not sure they’d even be
happy with everything done for them.
Middle class homes and all the other
categories are bang on target as far as
I can tell, although in Britain I suspect
it would be more likely to sell to
businesses, with bulk orders coming
from those companies already well into
data processing.
All the dealers appointed by IBM will
have had to sign a strict agreement
which tells them the sort of behaviour
that IBM expects of them. They agree
not to exaggerate the capabilities of the
equipment nor to disparage other
people’s products. They have to agree to
do warranty work regardless of where
the machine was bought and they must
send two sales and two engineering staff
on IBM-run courses. And IBM has the
right at any time to inspect the premises
and interview the staff to ensure that
PCW 119
Commodore VIC-20
A fully-fledged, fully expandible, computer with large typewriter-
style keyboard, programmable function keys, PET compatible.
Gives 24 colours and sound, (to the degree that it can be used to
compose music). High resolution graphics module available as
extra. Speaks BASIC. Easy-to-use, even for beginners. New
VIC-20 material is available and more is on the way. Supplied
with easy-to-read, easy-to-use manual, suitable for beginners
and children. Programs can be stored on optional VIC tape
recorder Commodore approved supplier.
Texas Instruments TI-99/4
(PAL colour TV compatible)
Usable literally within minutes of unpacking. Anyone can use it
without previous computer experience or programming
knowledge. Powerful 16K. BASIC language. Special features:
high resolution graphics let you create animated displays,
charts, graphs: built-in music synthesizer allows you to build
notes and chords: equation calculator for maths solutions.
Designed for home management, educational and
entertainment use. Large amount of educational software
available on modules for youngsters. Programs can also be
stored using good quality tape recorder. Texas Instruments
approved supplier.
Trust the unique Ckmprter
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computers.
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To Computer Supermarket Ltd, Douglas House,-
Queens Square, Corby, Northants
Please send me
□ Commodore VIC-20 at £1 92.50
□ Texas Instruments TI-99/4 at £282.50
□ Atari 400 at £348.50
□ Atari 800 at £648.50
□ Hardware/Software list
□ Atari tape recorder at £45 inc. VAT, p&p
□ VIC tape recorder at £40 inc. VAT, p&p
I enclose my cheque for £
Or debit my Access/Barclaycard/Diners Card No as
(Cardholders may telephone orders to 05366 61587/8)
Signature_
Name_
Address _
.(BLOCK CAPITALS PLEASE) PCW 11
Atari 400
Brings the family music, art, education, entertainment. A general
purpose personal computer that's easy to operate and offers 16
colours, each with 8 intensities; high resolution graphics; 4
sound synthesizers; 57 key alphanumeric keyboard with upper/
lower case, inverse video, full screen editing, four-way cursor
control, 29 graphics keys. Programming languages: BASIC,
ASSEMBLER, PILOT. Programs can be stored on optional Atari
tape recorder. Atari approved supplier.
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Top-of-the-line personal computer. Advanced peripheral
components, comprehensive software library. Modular design
precludes obsolescence. 16 colours (8 intensities), 4 sound
synthesizers: 57 keys with upper/lower case, inverse video, full
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Programming languages: BASIC, EXTENDED BASIC,
ASSEMBLER, PILOT, PASCAL. Programs can be stored on
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peripherals will be available for each computer.
All units are complete and ready to use. 13 amp
plug fitted. Thorn colour TV’s can be supplied
for use with these computers. Details on
application.
Prices include VAT. P&p & insurance £3.50
Your remittance should be made payable to Computer Supermarket
Ltd , and shall remain your money until the goods have been
despatched to you at the address specified. All goods offered are
subject to Computer Supermarket conditions of sale, copies available
on request. Registered in England No. 2646589.
PRESTEL SERVICE Prestel subscribers can obtain further details
on these computers - and place orders for them - through the Prestel
service PRESTEL No. 400400
•••• ••••_
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COMPUTER SUPERMARKET LTD, DOUGLAS HOUSE, QUEENS SQUARE, CORBY, NORTHANTS. TELEPHONE 05366 61587/8 AND 62571
PCW 120
At work or play- everything you need in a personal computer
The Atom is a machine to be used.
Every day, day alter day. It's a full
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specification against others. It's
rugged, easy to operate built to last
and features a full-size typewriter
keyboard.
Just look at some of the features!
More hardware support than any other
microcomputer • Superfast BASIC - can be
updated to BBC BASIC if required
• High resolution and comprehensive
graphics ideal for games programmers and
players* • Integral printer connection*
• Software available for games, education,
maths, graphs, business, word processing, etc.
• Other languages: Pascal, FORTH, LISP
• I/O port for control of external devices
• Built-in loudspeaker • Cassette interface
• Full service/repair facility Users club
* Expanded version only
Optional Extras
Network facility with Econet
Disk • PAL UHF colour encoder
Add-on cards include 32K memory,
analogue to digital, viewdata VDU, disk
controller, daisywheel printer, plus many,
many more! Power supply
FREE MANUAL
The Atom's highly acclaimed manual comes
free with every Atom and leaves nothing out In
just a while you'll be completely at ease with
your new machine! Within hours you'll be
writing your own programs
YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN
More and more schools are buying Atoms.
More and more children will learn on an Atom.
You can give them that extra familiarity with an
Atom in the home.
-JfcORN..
A A11 RI ITCB Market Hill,
lA/lYlrU IEK Cambridge cb2 3nj
When you order your Atom we will include
full details of all software packs and the
optional hardware.
To: Acorn Computer Limited, 4A Market Hill,
Cambridge CB2 3NJ.
I enclose a cheque/postal order for £.
Please debit my Access/
Barclaycard No .
Signature.
Name (please print) .
Address .
Telephone Number.
Registered No. 1403810 VAT No. 215 4Q0 220
Item price inc.
Quantity Item VAT + P&P Totals
Atom Kit8KROM+
2K RAM
@£14000
Atom Assembled 8K
ROM+2KRAM
@£174 50
Atom Assembled 12K
ROM+ 12K RAM
@£289 50
Power Supply
@£ 10 20
TOTAL
Dealers or Mail Order
Computer stores are stocking Atoms - there’s a list below, but if you have any problems getting
hold of one just fill in the coupon and well rush one to you within 28 days. If the machine isn’t
all you expected, or all we’ve told you, just return it within 14 days for a full refund.
MOM, Aberdeen 22863. Broadway Electronics, Bedford. Owl Computers, Bishops Stortford,
52682. Eltec Services, Bradford 491371. Gamer, Brighton 698424. Electronic Information
Systems, Bristol 774 564. Cambridge Comp Store, Cambridge 65334. Cardiff Micros, Cardiff
373072. Emprise, Colchester 865926. Silicon Centre, Edinburgh 332 5277. Esco Computing,
Glasgow 204 181 1. Control Universal, Harlow 31604. Unitron Electronics, Haslington. Castle
Electronics, Hastings 437875. Currys Micro Systems, High Wycombe. Microdigital, Liverpool 236
0707. Barrie Electronics, London 488 3316. Off Records, SW12. Technomatic, NW1 0 452 1500.
H.C.C.S., Low Fell 821924. NSC Comp Shops, Manchester 832 2269. Compshop, New Barnet
441 2922. Newbear Comp Store, Newbury 30505. Newcastle Comp Services, Newcastle 615325.
Anglia Comp Store, Norwich 29652. Leasalink Viewdata, Nottingham 396976. Customized
Elect, Redcar 481460. Computers for All, Romford 751906. Intelligent Artefacts, Royston,
Arrington 689. Quadraphenia, Sheffield 77824. Q-TEK Systems, Stevenage 65385. 3D Computers,
Surbiton (01) 337 4317. Computer Supplies, Swansea 290047. Abacus Micro Comp, Tonbridge,
Paddock Wood 3861. Northern Comp, Warrington 601683.
PCW 121
rnMPl itfr
the standards are being maintained.
So, dealers, and readers, if the IBM
Personal Computer ever comes to
Britain, you now have some idea of what
to expect. I hope it happens, but
don’t hold your breath waiting for it.
Future plans
It’s just about impossible to discuss
IBM’s future plans because they won’t
tell you anything intentionally. I suspect
that an Assembler is on the way and
that, if it appears, it’s 99 percent
certain to come from Microsoft since
they’ve written the editor and debug
facilities. The only things I know for
sure are that CP/M-86 is undergoing
final testing right now and IBM will be
looking at the dealer situation again in
December to see whether it will be able
to supply new dealers if they are taken
on board. IBM’s attitude is that it’s
better not to appoint new dealers until
it can be sure of keeping them supplied.
Incidentally, CP/M-86 will cost
considerably more than DOS and I’m
not at all sure that it will be able to
support the Microsoft Basics and Pascal
which were written to run under DOS.
Prices
Just as a guide, here are some extracts
from the IBM price list. ComputerLand
stores will almost certainly charge
different prices and not necessarily less
than IBM.
System Unit (16k) with keyboard $1265
Monochrome display $345
Matrix printer $755
Printer cable $55
Printer stand $55
Monochrome display and printer
adaptor $355
Colour/graphics monitor adaptor $300
Printer adaptor $150
Memory expansions
16k kit $90
32k option board $325
64k option board $540
(64k must be on-board before adding
plug-in memory options)
Disk drive adaptor $220
Disk drive $570
RS232 $150
Game adaptor $50
DOS + Basic extensions $40
Pascal Compiler $300
Comms support $40
VisiCalc $200
Easywriter $175
Adventure $40
Ledgers each $595
I’ve worked out that a typical
64k, twin disk, RS232 system with a
monochrome display and a printer
would cost $4575 — around £2500
in our money. This price includes the
DOS and the Basic enhancements.
Conclusions
It’s all been said really. This is probably
the most professionally put together
system I have seen. Lots of them look
good then you find they fall over, or the
manual is unintelligible; neither is the
case with this Personal Computer. The
only thing missing at the moment is
a wide selection of packages, but I
rather feel that the whole world and
its grandmother will be frantically
trying to fill that particular gap.
IBM has paid great attention to
the details of the hardware, the soft¬
ware, the documentation, the distribut¬
ion and support. In a word it’s a knock¬
out. I wish it was on sale here.
Benchmark
timings
All timings in seconds.
BM1 1.5
BM2 5.2
BM3 12.1
BM4 12.6
BM5 13.6
BM6 23.5
BM7 37.4
BM8 3.5
Technical specifications
CPU
Intel 8088,4.77 MHz
RAM
16-256k, plus 4k or 16k video RAM
ROM
40k
Disks
Up to 2 drives, each 160k
Cassette
Accepts user’s own cassettes
Ports
Joystick/Paddles, RS232
Screens
Monochrome (green) 25 x 80, Colour 24 x 40 or 80, up to
16 foreground and 8 background colours, 320 x 200 and
640 x 200 graphics. Will drive monitor or domestic TV with
appropriate RF modulator.
Keyboard
83 key typamatic. Tactile feedback. Auto repeat. 10 function
keys (40 functions programmable). Single stroke Basic key¬
words . Numeric keypad.
122 PCVV
EURO MICROMOUSE ’81
A different story
Another non-starter was Speedy
Gonzales. This German mouse was
altogether a different story.
Speedy Gonzales cost nearly *
DM10,000(!) and was designed and
constructed as a project over two
years by electronics students from
Dortmund University. It used two P r
processors in a complicated n
ment, one controlling the r
sensors the other solving i
- V*
Setting up the maze for the Finals in the Palais de la Decouverte.
Robin Bradbeer brings us his observations on the European Micromouse finals , held in Paris during
the Euromicro Conference in September.
The object of a Micromouse competi¬
tion is to design a robot that will
negotiate a maze constructed of 3in
high walls. The ‘mice’ are allowed 15
minutes to ‘learn’ the quickest way to
the centre and the maze is designed
to stop ‘wall followers’ from getting
to the middle.
There had been a couple of trial
heats during the previous months —
one in London in July, and the other
in Paris. The European contest was
based on the now defunct American
competition run by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers. It
was resurrected by John Billingsley,
a lecturer at Portsmouth Polytechnic
last year. In the 1981 contest a British
designed mouse — Sterling Mouse by
Nick Smith — beat all the competition;
this was taken as a great challenge by
a number of countries, especially the
Finns and the French.
Something like 15 mice turned up
for the trials at the beginning of the
conference. These had a couple of days
to get ‘tuned up’ and then an elimina¬
tion contest was held to decide the top
seven to enter the final, along with
Sterling Mouse which was there as
champion.
The line-up in the trials reflected
the level of interest in each participating
country. There were three Finnish, two
French, two German, eight British. . .
and one Japanese! The latter came all
the way to Europe to get a taste of the
competition.
The difference in construction of
each mouse also reflected the level of
sponsorship available. Lorthocogitante,
designed by Marc Renpauville of Paris,
was constructed from bits of Fischer
Technik and took him about four week¬
ends to build. It was lacking in intelli¬
gence and Marc brought the mouse
along to compare notes. Similarly,
Dave Buckley from West Hampstead
had a home-built mouse called Questor
which was not fully operational but
Dave, like Marc, wanted the experience.
Both belonged to computer clubs —
Marc to a small (three members!)
robotics club and Dave to the 250+
members North London Hobby Compu¬
ter Club. Another Club-based mouse
came from Hayes Manor, a school
electronics club supported by a local
firm, LB Electronics of Hillingdon.
Two of the schoolboys — Bob Taylor
and Ralph Allen — were in Paris to
represent the many in Hayes Manor
School who contributed to the con¬
struction of Die Fledermaus #2. This
mouse is based on a cut-down tank kit
with an aluminium body to replace the
original plastic. It performed at
Wembley in July but was still a few
weeks away from being able to
complete the course in Paris. Mcfc Smith with Sterling Mouse.
A swarm of Micromice.
FERGUSSON
COMPUTERS LIMITED
SALES
* Authorised Apple Dealer
* Full range of equipment
* on demonstration
AFTER SALES
* Full support services
* Installation
* Staff Training
* Consultancy
MAINTENANCE
Apple Level I Service Centre
ITT Repair and Maintenance
* On-Site contracts
* Ad-hoc repairs
* Workshop Services
* Collection from Red Star
AGENTS FOR:
HARDWARE
* Qume
* Anadex
* Epson
* NEC
ACCOUNTING
* Systematics
* Vlasak
* Computech
* Tabs
FINANCIAL
* Visicalc
* Micromodeller
. . .and many others
Come and see us for a demonstration
or telephone for an appointment
4 PYRFORD ROAD, WEST BYFLEET, SURREY
TELEPHONE (09323) 45330/41810
COPYRIGHT 1980
tuLAtsu «<ote
Turn your Apple into the world’s
most versatile personal computer.
The SoftCard™ Solution. SoftCard
turns your Apple into two computers.
A Z-80 and a 6502. By adding a Z-80
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a CP/M based machine. That means
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Plug and go. The SoftCard system
starts with a Z-80 based circuit card.
Just plug it into any slot (except 0) of
your Apple. No modifications required.
SoftCard supports most of your Apple
peripherals, and, in 6502-mode, your
Apple is still your Apple.
CP/M for your Apple. You get CP/M
on disk with the SoftCard package. It's
a powerful and simple-to-use operating
system. It supports more software
than any other microcomputer operat¬
ing system. And that's the key to the
versatility of the SoftCard/Apple.
BASIC included. A powerful tool,
BASIC-80 is included in the SoftCard
package. Running under CP/M, ANSI
Standard BASIC-80 is the most
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PRINT USING, CHAIN and COM¬
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SoftCard is a trademark of Microsoft, Inc. Apple II
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Pete & Pam Computers
Waingate Lodge,
Waingate Close,
Rossendale, Lancs , BB4 7SQ
Telephone Rossendale (0706) 227011
EURO MICROMOUSE ’81
algorithms. This mouse was also a non¬
starter.
The main organised opposition to the
British came from the Finns. They had
a competition in Finland last month and
only one out of five mice which entered
actually finished. However, such is the
dedication of most mouse-freaks that
three made it to Paris and all succeeded
in the trials.
The slowest mouse in the trials was
Thezeus, built by Alan Dibley of
Cheddar, Somerset, and based around a
ZX80. Unfortunately, Thezeus blunder¬
ed about so much during its first run —
it took over 11 minutes — that there
was no time left for subsequent runs.
Superlite, another German mouse
built by Klaus Waldsmidt, also from
Dortmund, had a final run of 3m 6s.
Next was Alan Dibley’s second entry
Son of Thezeus, also based on a ZX80,
which took 2m 49s.
Two Finnish mice were next in line,
Midnight Sun Junior and Jukka. The
former was built by students from
Tampere University and took 2m 36s.
The latter, nicknamed Jack the Rat,
was also built by students, this time
from Oulu University and took 2m 32s.
In third place came the sole working
French mouse, KIM, which was
constructed by Te Vin Huor from
Bandoufle. It took lm 43s. The third
Finnish mouse, Minitaurus, from
Tampere University, took lm 27s with
the fastest trial run of lm 15s being
made by Thumper. This was the winner
of the London competition and was
built by three people from Wolver¬
hampton, Andrew Keatley, Dave
Woodfield and Arthur White. Thumper
was one of the two mice in the competi¬
tion (the other was Minitaurus) that
had speech synthesis. As it moved about
the maze, cries of ‘West’, ‘East’, ‘There’s
a cat in this maze’, etc could be heard
among the motors’ whirrings.
The final
And so the final, held in the Palais de
la Decouverte, the Parisian equivalent of
the Science Museum. The entrance hall
is a large rotunda and about 200 people
turned up to watch. Discussions
between the judging panel and the
organisers meant that the maze in the
final was slightly different to that in the
trials. It was basically designed to sort
the ‘blunderers’ out from the ‘thinkers’.
It seems incredible, but all those people
sat for nearly two hours watching pieces
of metal trying to find their way into
the middle of the maze! That shows you
how enthralling micromouse competi¬
tions are.
The mice went in reverse order of
best trial time with Sterling Mouse going
third from last. John Billingsley did a
marvellous job compering the whole
thing in English and near-perfect
French. (In some ways this did more
to enhance the feeling that Britain was
finally a part of Europe than anything
else!) However, even John refused to
translate ‘up a creek without a paddle’
when one of the contenders got stuck
at a dead end.
First away was Superlite from
Germany (Thezeus bowed out so that
Sterling Mouse could enter). After 15
minutes it still hadn’t got anywhere near
the middle and the German challenge
faded. Son of Thezeus, waving a small
Union Jack, conked out after a couple
of minutes and was allowed to withdraw
temporarily. On his return later in the
event Alan, who only had 10 minutes
left, found that the program had got
corrupted. It was instructive to compare
the use of sophisticated equipment at
Intel’s headquarters in Paris to debug
some of the software on one of the Intel
distributor-sponsored Finnish mice to
the use of a portable TV/cassette
recorder and detached ZX80 keyboard,
with Alan writing Z-80 code from his
head! So Son of Thezeus retired.
The Finnish
challenge
The first Finnish challenge was
from Midnight Sun Junior, who could
have had more than 15 minutes if it
wanted to as the clock — on a PET —
broke down. It got so close to the
middle but its batteries ran out: exit
one Finn! The next Finnish challenger,
Jukka, just would not work properly
and was retired. A big cheer greeted the
sole French entry, KIM, with the crowd
being goaded to patriotic fervour by
John Billingsley at the microphone.
(The French were so convinced that a
native mouse would win the earlier
French heats, that the prize computer
did not have any export documents. As
it was won by Sterling Mouse, Nick
Smith had some problems later!) Unfor¬
tunately, all KIM would do was to go
around in circles!
By now the crowd was beginning to
get a bit restless as nothing much was
happening to inspire confidence in these
strange creatues. Some were even
beginning to mutter about the whole
thing being a bit of a con! But enter
Sterling Mouse to a big cheer. On its
first run it got to the middle in 3m
45s, on the second lm 53s and on the
third and final run, lm 8s. Confidence
had been restored and the battle looked
alive again.
The Minitaurus team now took the
centre of the arena. If you can imagine
eight, six-foot high, blonde Finns all
wearing Minitaurus tee shirts, then you
can envisage the impressive sight presen¬
ted to the crowd. Minitaurus, which
was only 12 seconds behind Thumper
in the trials, had been carefully
‘tweaked’ by its creators to win. The
Finns were so determined that their
phlegmatic Britons present. However,
all Minitaurus could achieve was to
move very quickly everywhere — except
to the middle. It eventually got there in
6m 7s and then promptly refused to do
anything more! The rather annoyed
Finnish team had to retire to the corner
to prepare their mouse for its piece de
resistance later in the programme.
Finally Thumper entered, with John
giving it quite a build-up. Its first run
took just lm 59s, the second lm 44s
and the third only 44s! It then repeated
this time, with the team not having any
more runs. Thumper received a standing
ovation, especially after John had trans¬
lated its mutterings into French.
Once the maze had been conquered
so successfully, Minitaurus took the
stage again. A large sheet of white paper
was attached to a board that covered
the maze and Minitaurus began its
‘dance’. While playing a whole selection
of synthesised music from classical to
rock, the mouse wrote its name in a
circle on the paper using a pen attached
to one of its ‘arms’. This won the Finns
at least a consolation prize for the best
virtuoso performance.
The presentations themselves were
rather chaotic, in the most endearing
Gallic way: Thumper won its makers
an MZ-80K while Sterling Mouse’s
creator won an HP5036 computer. All
the finalists got prizes, even if it was a
free subscription to a couple of French
personal computer magazines.
What of the
future?
After that convincing show of
British-make-do-and-mend — what of
the future? So far we know of Five
events next year. First are some London
Trials, being sponsored by the Associa¬
tion of London Computer Clubs, at
the London Computer Fair in April.
Although primarily a chance for mice
being built by members of ALCC clubs,
these are open to anybody — the
Japanese have expressed an interest.
Following that in July, at the Micro¬
computer Show, are the British Finals,
to decide who goes through to the
European Finals in early September.
The French Finals will be held in Paris,
also in July. The European Finals will
be held at the Euromicro Conference in
Haifa, Israel. Finally(!) there is hope
that a World Finals will be held at next
year’s Personal Computer World Show,
also in September. If all goes to plan,
seriousness rather worried the more GOTO page 182
Andrew Keatley keeping a close eye on Thumper as it approaches the centre of
the maze.
126 PCVV
COMPUTER ANSWERS
Send your queries to: Sheridan Williams , 35 St Julian s Road , St Albans, Herts.
Please note that Sheridan can no longer answer questions on an individual
basis, so please don Y send an SAE with your query.
Open question
Could you tell me the prin¬
ciples involved in writing an
INFILL or PAINT routine to
block in an area bounded by
a line or number of lines? It is
easy to deal with simple
shapes like rectangles but a
routine to deal with weird
shapes is defeating me. Some
examples are:
Please send your answers
directly to J Sharp, 11
Portrea Close, Davenport,
Stockport, Cheshire. The best
answer will receive a small
prize.
SW
Project
problem
I am about to start an O
level/A level course in com-
E uter science. I am worried
ecause I do not know what
project to do. I am also
unsure what to include in the
project write-up (documen¬
tation).
H Singh, Birmingham
Yes, this is the time to discuss
such matters, although by the
time this appears in PCW it
will probably be too late — I
am writing this in August
(1981!).
Well, you will get far more
details from the teacher con¬
cerned at your school/college,
but you should bear in mind
what you are doing this
project for. It is not for fun,
or just something for the
examiners to mark, it is to
show that you have an apti¬
tude for programming.
Future employers may wish
to see your project if they
are employing you in a
computer-related field. For
that reason alone it is best to
reject a games-playing pro¬
gram. Choose something that
you can research, like a pay¬
roll program. That will give
you an insight into pay that
virtually no one else has and
will enable you easily to work
out whether you are paying
too much tax when you start
work. Scientific programs are
usually too trivial, unless you
have a good knowledge of
mathematics and statistics.
Stick to data processing type
programs. Stock control,
survey analysis, information
retrieval, computer dating
and estate agents’ housing
lists are just some examples
that may sound complicated
but are not, provided you
keep things simple. Ask your
parents or relations what they
would like a computer to do
in their companies. Part of
the idea of a project is that
you should be able to think
up a project for yourself.
Program documentation is
vitally important. Most
students spend 95 per cent of
the course writing the pro¬
gram and leave the documen¬
tation until too late. A better
ratio is to allow at least 25
per cent of the time for the
documentation. After all, the
only way the examiner can
tell how good your project is
is to read your documen¬
tation. Documentation
should provide three major
items: making the program
easy to use, easy to under¬
stand, and easy to modify .
Think about each one of
these carefully, and if your
documentation doesn’t fulfil
them then you’ll know what
to do. A good idea is to come
to an agreement with another
student on the course who is
doing a different project.
Swap your write-ups and see
if you can understand what
the other is doing, be vicious
and scathing with each
other’s documentation but be
sure to leave enough time to
get over the shock and re¬
write it.
SW
Feedback
In the August 81 ‘Computer
Answers’ there was a query
from P G Upton regarding
programs for survey data
entry and analysis. I have
received letters from two
companies who both offer
such packages. I have not
tried them, so I cannot give
any recommendations. Both
run under CP/M and so would
be of wide use. Suppliers are:
Systematica, 112 Strand,
London WC2R OAA (01-836
9379); Arithmos, 59 Bancroft
House, Bramlands Close,
London SW11 (01-228 2452)
and 2 Jubilee Road Walker-
burn, Peebleshire EH43 6AJ
(089687 583).
Another previous query
from R Jones requested in¬
formation about running pro¬
grams direct from cassette on
the Acorn Atom. I have been
notified of a new Utility
ROM for the Atom: a pro¬
gram gan be saved using the
new command BSAVE, and
only the filename need be
specified. The program can
then be run direct from cas¬
sette using the standard RUN
command. The ROM provides
an additional 17 commands,
including renumber, string
search, auto line numbers,
etc. For further details, send
an SAE to: Willow Software,
PO Box 6, Crediton, Devon
EX17 1DL. Again, I haven’t
tested this so cannot give any
recommendations.
Fuzzy puzzle
Why is it that when a TRS-80
(with a modulator) or a
Video Genie is connected to
an ordinary TV, the display is
so fuzzy? I can barely disting¬
uish between 8 and 3! How
do I make the figures as sharp
as those on a ZX80?
T D Edwards, Chalfont St
Giles
There is no easy solution to
your problem — it will be
present as long as you use a
TV instead of a monitor!
Any computer which
produces video output for
a TV has extra links in the
chain connecting the two —
the computer modulator and
the TV tuner and demodulat¬
or. This introduces some
signal degradation and affects
picture quality.
The TV circuitry is not
designed to cope with the
bandwidth of the signals the
computer feeds to it. This
means that it is also designed
for a lower screen definition
than a video monitor. The
video circuitry can produce
smaller individual points on
the screen than the TV and
this means the characters it
produces are better defined.
The Sinclair ZX80 achieves
its picture quality by produc¬
ing inverse characters — ie
black on white, rather than
the normal white on black.
This overcomes some of the
loss of definition. This can be
done on the TRS-80, but
only at the loss of your
guarantee!
The American magazine
80 Microcomputing published
in May 1981 a three chip
modification which will
g roduce inverse characters.
rraphics boards such as the
Programma will also produce
inverse video characters.
Dr N Robinson
Which
printer?
I want to buy a printer for
my TRS80 which costs less
than £500 (plus VAT) and
has tractor and friction
feed.
TG Wright, Ruwi, Sultanate
of Oman
One of the biggest recent areas
of growth in the computer
market has been that for
better and cheaper matrix
printers. The new generation
of printers has features which
were formerly the province of
the golfball and daisywheel
printers. These include
double density printing,
superscripts, proportional
spacing, variable print size,
and underlining.
These features are control¬
led by control codes from the
computer, either direct from
the keyboard, or incorp¬
orated into a program.
Printers such as the Micro¬
line 80, (£300), Epson MX-
80F/T (£399) and Centronics
737 (£349) — all prices plus
VAT — have these features, as
well as a choice of tractor or
friction feed.
These enhanced printing
capabilities are not access¬
ible by the most popular
TRS-80 word-processing
programs, Electric Pencil
and Scripsit. However,
a program available from
A J Harding Ltd, called
Superscript allows any
printer capabilities to be
accessed from within Scripsit.
If money is short, then the
Tandy Line Printer VII (a
custom version of the
Seikosha GP 80A) is only
£200 (inc VAT). It is tractor
feed only but single sheets
can be taped to the cont¬
inuous paper and fed through.
A final word of warning
— dealers tend to charge
about £30 (plus VAT) for
the two plugs and three feet
of cable which connect the
printer to the computer!
You can make one your¬
self for £5 or so.
Dr N Robinson
Tuscan
change
Owing to the lack of com¬
mercial software for my
standard Tuscan 2, I would
like to dispense with the TCL
Basic ROMs and install an
EPROM board with a better
served system (eg TRS—80
Level 2). Could this be made
to work with the Tuscan
configuration?
PA Janies, Chepstow
The problem with your
interesting suggestion is that
a ROM-based interpreter has
not only to convert from the
high-level language into
machine code but it must also
provide the interfacing be¬
tween the programs and the
screen, VDU terminal^ printer,
etc. Thus, while the Tuscan
Basic interpreter is closely
based on the interpreter
Transam already had avail¬
able for their Triton
computer, it was still
necessary for the I/O portion
to be re-written for the
Tuscan.
One way out of your
problem, although an expen¬
sive one, would be to
PCW 127
Make the most of your
Sinclair ZX Computer...
Sinclair ZX
software
on cassette.
£ 3 .— per cassette.
The unprecedented popularity of Cassette 1-Games
the ZX Series of Sinclair Personal
Computers has generated a large
volume of programs written by users.
Sinclair has undertaken to
publish the most elegant of these
on pre-recorded cassettes. Each
program is carefully vetted for
interest and quality, and then
grouped with other programs to
form a single-subject cassette.
Each cassette costs £3.95
(including VAT and p&p) and comes
complete with full instructions.
Although primarily designed
for the Sinclair ZX81, many of the
cassettes are suitable for running
on a Sinclair ZX80-if fitted with a
replacement 8K BASIC ROM.
Some of the more elaborate
programs can be run only on a
Sinclair ZX Personal Computer
augmented by a 16K-byte add-on
RAM pack.
This RAM pack and the
replacement ROM are described
below. And the description of each
cassette makes it clear what
hardware is required. ~
8K BASIC ROM
The 8K BASIC ROM used in the
ZX81 is available to ZX80 owners
as a drop-in replacement chip.
With the exception of animated
graphics, all the advanced features
of the ZX81 are now available on a
ZX80-including the ability to run
much of the Sinclair ZX Software.
The ROM chip comes with a
new keyboard template, which can
be overlaid on the existing
keyboard in minutes, and a new
operating manual.
16K-BYTE RAM pack
The 16K-byte RAM pack provides
16-times more memory in one
complete module. Compatible with
the ZX81 and the ZX80, it can be used
for program storage or as a database.
The RAM pack simply plugs
into the existing expansion port on
the rear of a Sinclair ZX Personal
Computer.
For ZX81 (and ZX80 with 8K
BASIC ROM)
ORBIT -your space craft’s
mission is to pick up a very valuable
cargo that’s in orbit around a star.
SNIPER-you’re surrounded
by 40 of the enemy. How quickly
can you spot and shoot them when
they appear?
METEORS-your starship is
cruising through space when you
meet a meteor storm. How long can
you dodge the deadly danger?
LIFE-J.H. Conway’s ‘Game of
Life’ has achieved tremendous
popularity in the computing world.
Study the life, death and evolution
patterns of cells.
WOLFPACK-your naval
destroyer is on a submarine hunt.
The depth charges are armed, but
must be fired with precision.
GOLF-what’s your handicap?
It’s a tricky course but you control
the strength of your shots.
Cassette 2-Junior
Education: 7-11-year-olds
For ZX81 with 16K RAM pack
CRASH-simple addition-with
the added attraction of a car crash
if you get it wrong.
MULTIPLY-long multi¬
plication with five levels of
difficulty. If the answer’s wrong-
the solution is explained.
TRAIN-multiplication tests
against the computer. The winner’s
train reaches the station first.
FRACTIONS - fractions
explained at three levels of
difficulty. A ten-question test
completes the program.
ADDSUB- addition and
subtraction with three levels of
difficulty. Again, wrong answers
are followed by an explanation.
DIVISION-with five levels of
difficulty. Mistakes are explained
graphically, and a running score is
displayed.
SPELLING-up to 500 words
over five levels of difficulty. You
can even change the words yourself.
Cassette 3-Business and
Household
For ZX81 (and ZX80 with 8K
BASIC ROM) with 16K RAM pack
TELEPHONE - set up your own
computerised telephone directory
and address book. Changes,
additions and deletions of up to
50 entries are easy.
NOTE PAD-a powerful, easy-
to-run system for storing and
retrieving everyday information.
Use it as a diary, a catalogue, a
reminder system, or a directory.
BANK ACCOUNT-a
sophisticated financial recording
system with comprehensive
documentation. Use it at home to
keep track of‘where the money
goes,’ and at work for expenses,
departmental budgets, etc.
Cassette 4-Games
For ZX81 (and ZX80 with 8K
BASIC ROM) and 16K RAM pack
LUNAR LANDING-bring the
lunar module down from orbit to a
soft landing. You control attitude
and orbital direction-but watch the
fuel gauge! The screen displays your
flight status-digitally and graphically.
TWENTY ONE - a dice version
ofBlackjack.
COMBAT-you’re on a suicide
space mission. You have only 12
missiles but the aliens have
unlimited strength. Can you take
12 of them with you?
SUBSTRIKE-on patrol, your
frigate detects a pack of 10 enemy
subs. Can you depth-charge them
before they torpedo you?
CODEBREAKER-the
computer thinks of a 4-digit number
which you have to guess in up to 10
tries. The logical approach is best!
MAYDAY - in answer to a distress
call, you’ve narrowed down the
search area to 343 cubic kilometers
of deep space. Can you find the
astronaut before his life-support
system fails in 10 hours time?
Cassette 5 - Junior
Education: 9-11-year-olds
For ZX81 (and ZX80 with 8K
BASIC ROM)
MATHS-tests arithmetic with
three levels of difficulty, and gives
your score out of 10.
BALANCE - tests understanding
of levers/fulcrum theory with a
series of graphic examples.
VOLUMES-‘yes’ or‘no’
answers from the computer to a
series of cube volume calculations.
AVERAGES - what’s the average
height of your class? The average
shoe size of your family? The average
pocket money of your friends? The
computer plots a bar chart, and
distinguishes MEAN from MEDIAN.
BASES - convert from decimal
(base 10) to other bases of your
choice in the range 2 to 9.
TEMP-Volumes, temperatures
-and their combinations.
How to order
Simply use the order form below,
and either enclose a cheque or give
us the number of your Access,
Barclaycard or Trustcard account.
Please allow 28 days for delivery.
14-day money-back option.
Sinclair -
ZX SOFTWARE
Sinclair Research Ltd,
6 Kings Parade, Cambridge,
Cambs., CB21SN. Tel: 0276 66104.
IT
To: Sinclair Research, FREEPOST 7, Cambridge, CB21YY
Please send me the items I have indicated below.
Please print
n
Qty
Code
Item
Item price
Total
21
Cassette 1 - Games
£3.95
22
Cassette 2 -Junior Education
£3.95
23
Cassette 3-Business and Household
£3.95
24
Cassette 4-Games
£3.95
25
Cassette 5-Junior Education
£3.95
17
*8K BASIC ROM for ZX80
£19.95
18
* 16K RAM pack for ZX81 and ZX80
£49.95
‘Post and packing (ifapplicable)
£2.95
Total £
‘Please add £2.95 to total order value only if ordering ROM and/or RAM.
I enclose a cheque/PO to Sinclair Research Ltd for£_
Please charge my AccessVBarclaycard/Trustcard no.
*Pleasc delete as applicable.
Name: Mr/Mrs/Miss I-1-1-L
Address: 1-i-1-1-1_I_L
J I I I I I
J L
J L
1PCWU
u
COMPUTER ANSWERS
upgrade your Tuscan to take
a disk drive. As you know,
the Tuscan is specifically
designed to make this upgrade
easy. Once you have a disk it
will be possible to use the
CP/M operating system,
which will allow you to load
any of a wide variety of
Basic (and other language)
interpreters and compilers.
If you were to use Micro¬
soft Basic, for example, you
would find a wide variety of
software available. Indeed,
there is a wide variety of
commercial software on the
market designed to run under
CP/M, including machine
code programs such as the
well-known WordStar word
processing program.
A second solution would
be to learn enough about
programming in Basic to be
able to convert purchased
programs to the TCL version
of Basic. (You would need to
make sure the programs you
bought were in source code,
not compiled into machine
code, and could be LISTed).
David Lien’s Basic Handbook
would be very useful here,
as it gives details of the
differences between many
dialects of Basic and help
with how to convert between
them.
P L Mcllmoyle
Micro RTTY
I intend to purchase a small
computer to encode and de¬
code amateur RTTY. The
problem is interfacing the
transceiver with the com¬
puter ports.
Does the UK101 have
a suitable port? Are there
other suitable models, eg
ZX81 or Nascom? Can you
suggest a book that would
help in writing the routine
for checking the port status?
Is it possible to record the
incoming data onto cassette
while the program is decoding
it?
G Caselton, Orpington
Nowhere do things move so
fast as in electronics and
computing! You can now buy
an RTTY transceiver with
built-in micro for decoding
for about £300, thus solving
the interfacing problem at a
stroke, and not spending
much more than the comput¬
er would have been. A receive-
only unit is about £160.
Further details of these MM
4000 and MM 2000 units can
be obtained from: Catronics
Ltd, Wallington Square,
Wallington, Surrey. Both
units work in both Murray
and ASCII codes.
If you particularly want
to use a separate computer
then I believe that suitable
combinations of hardware
and software are available for
the Video Genie at about
£150.
A guide in doing it all
yourself you could well start
with ‘ How to Program Micro¬
computers' by William
Barden Jr (H W Sams & Co 1
Inc). Chapter 23 gives a lot
of useful information on
I/O formatting. See also the
article in PCW Vol 4 No. 6,
July 1981.
P L Mcllmoyle
List block
I have become interested in
computers since the school
purchased a 32k PET last
September. Ever since we
began programming my
friends and I have been look¬
ing for a ‘list block’ to pre¬
vent listing but without
success. Can you help?
D Waterman, Gt Dunmow,
Essex
There is no simple answer to
this one — no magic POKE
which will render a program
unLISTable. None of the
software security methods
known to be in use today
would defeat a determined
expert, knowledgeable about
how Basic works, how the
Charget routine operates,
and able to delve into the
machine code, particularly if
equipped with one of the
powerful machine code aids
such as IPUG South East’s
Basmon ROM. However
there are various tricks which
are appropriate in various
circumstances, which will
give limited degrees of
security within those circum¬
stances.
Maybe you just want to
leave a program running un¬
attended at a school exhibit¬
ion, and wish to prevent
fiddling by practical jokers.
You could cause the program
to disable the STOP key and
write it so that it would not
crash under any conceivable
circumstances. Obviously,
it could not then be LISTed
or modified.
There is also a program
called Locksmith, recently
released as a puzzle by Jim
Butterfield, which may be
used to treat another program
so that it cannot be just
LOADed; it will only LOAD
and RUN. If the program
disables the STOP key, then a
similar security is achieved. In
both cases, the PET concern¬
ed must not have a warm
reset button.
The same end might be
achieved in a more amusing
fashion by incorporating
into the program a short
program called Protect. You
may leave your program
unattended after vou have
started it, as it will then
respond to LIST with the
statement: FOR DETAILS
OF THIS AND OTHER
SOFTWARE PLEASE
CONTACT D WATERMAN.
If you wish to prevent the
program from being LISTed,
or even RUN, except by you
or your agent, then you could
alter one of the Basic lines to
point elsewhere than to the
following lines. Only a person
who knows the secret POKE
could then use or LIST the
program. This method is
discussed briefly in The
PET Revealed by Nick
Hampshire. Once the program
had been POKEd, it would be
as vulnerable as ever and could
not be left unattended.
The most promising areas
in which to experiment with
a view to producing non¬
standard modes of operation
of the PET are line linkage, as
mentioned above, and the
Charget routine, which may
readily be modified to gener¬
ate new commands and to
detect additional control
characters.
To obtain a free copy of
Protect and Locksmith,
which are public domain
programs, contact the writer
on Biggin Hill 71742.
B J Biddles
A simple command like
POKE 1025,1 has an interest¬
ing anti-listing effect.
SW
Light pen
Do you know of a currently
available light pen for the
Atom.
Adrian Pegg, Ben fleet,
Essex
I am not aware of a light pen
for the Atorti. It should be
possible to use a light sensor
to latch the address present
on the VDG address lines and
read this address. The easiest
way of doing this on an
experimental basis would be
to obtain A1-A8 from IC40,
configure the VIA so that
port A was in latched input
mode, connect the eight
address lines to PA and latch
the input when the sensor
detected the extra brightness
present on the TV screen
when the electron beam
refreshes the phosphor. Using
A1-A8 will result in an error
of u-1 in the horizontal
resolution and using one of
the VDU RAM sockets to
obtain the address lines will
limit the use of the Atom to
graphics modes 0-3.
When the system has been
developed the address lines
can be permanently connect¬
ed to two latches with tristate
outputs and the sensors will
then latch the address lines
and generate an interrupt.
Intel 8212 chips would be
appropriate for this latching.
It would be necessary to
develop suitable software to
identify the character at the
specified address.
The Atom VDU board has
a light pen facility and can be
inserted at 0400H and 0800H.
However, it would then be
necessary to write new soft¬
ware to print on the screen.
Robin Lowis
Expanded
Atom
Do you know of any business
software for the Atom?
Would it be possible to run
a disk system. What advant¬
ages would installing an
acoustic coupler bring to talk
‘intelligently ’ to a main-frame.
Will the Proton’s peripherals
and software be compatible
with the Atom? Lastly, will
there be a Last One version
for the Acorn Atom?
J Neill, Bangor, Co Down
I am not aware of any
business software for the
Atom. The recent announce¬
ment of floppy disks from
Control Universal should
encourage its development,
though.
It would, theoretically, be
possible to use an Atom as an
intelligent terminal but it
would be necessary to write
suitable software to handle
the mainframe’s communicat¬
ions protocol and extra hard¬
ware would be needed to
generate and receive trans¬
missions.
I do not know what up¬
ward compatibility there will
be to the Proton we will have
to wait and see. Finally, I
doubt if there will be a ‘Last
One’ for the Atom.
Robin Lowis
PET upgrade
We are trying to upgrade a
‘new ROM’ 2001 PET from
16k to 32k by replacing the
RAMs but are unable to
access more than 16k even
after changing the top-of-
memory pointer. Are there
some hardware links we
should change?
A Dobbie, Caerphilly, Mid
Glamorgan
In a word, yes. This is
because there are two types
of RAM chip used on dynamic
RAM PETs, the 4116 and the
4108. The 4108 is in fact a
4116 that only has its top or
bottom half working when
tested. The addressing of the
top or bottom halves is
controlled by two wire links,
together with two others that
enable the machine to work
with either 4116 or 4108
RAMs.
There are also other links
to indicate how much
memory is present on the
mother board, allowing the
rest to be addressed from the
memory expansion port.
A suitable configuration
— one I used myself when
upgrading from 8k to 32k
— is as follows:
LINK
STATE
A
open
B
open
C
closed
E
open
F
closed
G
closed
H
closed
I
closed
L
open
M
open
The table only lists the
links concerned with on-
board memory. For a more
detailed understanding you
may find the electronic
circuit diagrams in The
PET Revealed to be help -
ful.
Julian Bane
PCW 129
GUESS WHAT ?
THE MONTHLY COMPETITION FROM GUESTEL
Two items in the above photograph have changed from the last issue.
We know the two apple disc drives have gone, the/ re being snapped
up at £595 a pair.
It's the other item that you can win if your entry is the first to be drawn
on December 14th at our Brighton office.
Send your entry to Dept PCW at the Brighton office.
Guestel provide Sales, Service and an in depth knowledge of Apple
systems at the most competitive prices.
24 HOUR CALL OUT SERVICE COMPUTER RENTAL SERVICE
EXPANSION THROUGH EFFICIENCY
For mail order and free advice on your systems requirements
contact:
BRIGHTON OFFICE
LONDON OFFICE
BRISTOL OFFICE
AUTHORISED APPLE DEALER
AND LEVEL 1 SERVICE CENTRE
15 Grand Parade Brighton
East Sussex BN2 2QB
Telephone 0273 695264
8-12 New Bridge Street
London EC4V 6AL
Telephone 01 -583 2255
£cippkz
OPEN ALL DAY SATURDAY
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All items subject to availability
prices ex
1 889 1
rzzL
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130 PCW
Apple is a trade mark of Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA. USA.
BOOKFARE
This week Malcolm Peltu reviews a new crop of introductions to micros
in business applications.
A GUIDE TOTHEGUDES
The small business is the apple of every¬
one’s eye at the moment. The govern¬
ment looks to small businesses as the
generators of jobs, entrepreneurial
spirit, etc. The computer systems
vendor views the small business with the
same relish that whales look at
plankton.
Book publishers, providers of educa¬
tional courses, even polytechnics and
universities also hope to get a bit of
juice out of the small business person.
Explaining technology and selling tech¬
nology to the end user/naive user/
punter/small businessman is booming —
small business is Big Business.
This month a couple of cassette
tapes and a book aimed at explaining
small business systems and word
processors have caught my eye and ear.
Before reviewing each item, I would like
to provide some guidance on how to
choose an introductory small business
book.
Although you can’t judge a book just
by looking at the cover, it is possible to
get a good idea of the level and style of
the book and the amount of detail
provided by flipping through. (The
inability to do this with a tape is one
disadvantage of audio material.)
By its nature, introductory material
is generalised. This is a good thing. So
if you see lots of detail about specific
products or technology, its probably
better to leave the book to a second
course, after you have savoured the
hors d’oeuvre.
Generalisations need not be waffle,
although they are frequently couched in
consultantese to give them a touch of
unwarranted grandeur. Consultantese is
the language developed by highly paid
consultants in order to make their
reports and documentation as fat as
their fees.
It is said that a consultant is a person
who borrows your watch to tell you the
time. Many consultants, of course, have
had a great deal of experience which
makes their services worthwhile. The
trouble is that ‘good advice’ can sound
like just common sense. In fact, it is
common sense to someone with
experience.
Typical consultantese are phrases
like, ‘in regard to the proposition’ and
‘given that the theory has been
complied with’. Anywhere where five
words are used instead of one and
where bland platitudes seal off the
whiff of reality.
If such consultantese litters the
pages, avoid the book like the plague.
The language used should be the
language of the real business world.
On the other hand, an attempt must
be made to explain jargon. You can tell
this by looking at the index or glossary.
Word Processing by Richard Morgan
and Brian Wood has a good index
because it indicates the page where the
word is first defined. The index strikes
the right level of necessary jargon. And
so does the book.
Two attitudes of jargon should be
avoided — the ‘you don’t need to know
any jargon other than hardware or soft¬
ware’ brigade or the ‘bits, bytes and
Basic’ merchants.
A cassette tape by Olivetti on
choosing a business system uses the line
about needing to know only
‘hardware’ and ‘software’ as jargon
words and then goes on to mention
things like VDUs, floppy disks,
parameter-driven software, etc.
This de-emphasising of jargon was a
natural antidote to the jargon-soaked
image which computing has had in the
past. Yet it is wrong to pretend that
computing can be comprehended
without learning some new terms.
In any case, one man’s jargon is
another’s natural language. Word
processing jargon like wraprounds,
scrolling and windows sounds more
‘English’ than bytes, RAMs and VDUs
- but it is still jargon.
The alternative approach is to get
bogged down in unnecessary jargon. I
have frequently lamented the type of
book called Introduction to Computing
which begins with binary logic,
computer architecture, etc, rather than
with the uses of the systems.
The style and mood of the book is
another vital ingredient in choosing one.
To me it is the poetic quality of the
author which is of particular signifi¬
cance in raising life out of a dead topic.
By ‘poetic’, I mean the imagery, the
analogies, the examples. I have often
thought that it would be nice to bring
out a book of computer analogies.
‘A computer is like. . .’ is how many
sentences begin, before sliding down a
precipice of despairing cliches and
metaphors.
On this test, the tape ‘How to
choose your small business computer’
by J Mike Eaton gets high marks. His
analogy for a computer system is a
barn.
Roughly (and he emphasises that
it is only a rough image), the bigger the
barn, the more you pay. The bam is the
place where information is stored. The
keyboard is equivalent to a door marked
IN; the printer to a door marked OUT.
The VDU screen is a window for looking
into the databam. Disks and storage are
equivalent to shelves, filing cabinets,
etc.
Then you need someone to rush
around inside doing calculations and
moving information around. This (in a
not very good analogy) is the processor,
says Eaton.
The barn image, however, is apt
because he is trying to point out that
the size of your data requirement
plays a dominant role in determining
the size and cost of the system.
The Olivetti tape, however, uses
some corny imagery. Computers are
like motor vehicles. You can get a
motorcycle at a cheap price or a Rolls-
Royce at a higher price. This analogy
is misleading. Computers are not as
single-purpose as vehicles and the
difference between a Roller and a
Honda tells you nothing about the
factors which distinguish one computer
from another. Eaton’s barn, however,
has the characteristic of actually being
a storage area, which helps to clarify
and enliven the description of a
computer.
Another element of style is how
the witticisms, asides, jokes and general
personality of the author(s) appeal.
Morgan and Wood, for example have a
touch of literary class. They start with
a quote from Omar Khayyam:
The Moving Finger writes;
and having Writ
Moves on; nor all thy Piety or Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half aline.
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.
‘The typewriter emulates the Moving
Finger, but, because unlike the finger,
it was mechanical, it was reasonable to
ask if more mechanism might accomp¬
lish what Piety, Wit and Tears were
powerless to do.’
They have another erudite reference
when explaining macros: ‘Macros is the
Greek for “long” and one of the early
kings of Persia was nicknamed
Macrocheir or “longhand” because his
reach extended to all parts of his large
dominions,’ they comment.
Tit-bits like this add little to an
understanding of the technology but
they make a great deal of difference in
making the newcomer to computers
feel at ease.
The key to appeal is style rather than
uniqueness of content. On his tape,
Mike Eaton makes a trenchant point
about buying a computer: it does not
really matter what computer you buy
provided it does what you want. ‘Ir
you have some irrational desire to buy
a particular computer, get it,’ he says.
Of course, the system must have the
required capabilities and the supplier
should provide adequate support. But
there are a multitude of systems which
can do the job, and selecting one system
rather than another is unlikely to make
much real difference.
In the same way, I believe that a
small business person (or any other
newcomer to computing) should choose
whichever book, course or tape appeals
most and with which he or she feels at
ease.
Although I have been critical of
many introductory books, I cannot
remember any that were actually wrong
in what they say. The worst crimes are
to be out of date, to miss out important
aspects of information technology and
to over-emphasise the technology rather
than the uses. But when you are
wanting something that gives an insight
into computing potential, none of these
faults are disastrous. What is important
is that the essential messages get
through. That is why I have emphasised
factors like general feel of the book (or
sound of the tape); style; wit and rele¬
vance of the imagery.
In assessing introductory material,
it is important to be aware of what I
call the Roots And Branches culture
PCW 131
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rjOatavieWi
The best disHette
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* All IBM formats
* AES/Lanier
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132 PCW
BOOKFARE
gaps. Information technology has its
roots in many different activities —
large-scale commercial data processing,
hobbyist personal computing, automatic
typewriters, telephone exchanges, etc,
etc. From each of these roots, the
technology has branched out. Data
processing has sent its tentacles into
office automation. Word processors
grow into small business computers.
Personal computers are sold for data
processing and word processing tasks
rather than for home use.
The branches intertwine and merge
until you cannot see the join. But the
people who have grown up in one of
these cultures tends to view the world
from their own cultural perspective.
A traditional DP man sees the infor¬
mation world in terms of databases,
online terminals, communications net¬
works, etc. Word processor buffs are
into editing facilities, ergonomics of
workstations, text processing and letter-
quality printers with data processing
and communications seen as adjuncts
or as some future extensions of word
processing.
Both DP and WP (word processing)
experts tend to look down on personal
computers as toys. On the other hand,
to the personal computerist, life is a
bowl of Apples, CP/Ms, VisiCalcs and
WordStars, with DP and WP regarded
as cumbersome old-fashioned dinosaurs.
Provided the newcomer is aware of
these cultural differences and makes
allowances for them, little harm can be
done. The newcomer will grow indivi¬
dual roots from his or her own ‘cultural’
background. The small business person
will relate the technology to small
businesses. The solicitor or accountant
will relate it to soliciting or accounting.
The community organiser will relate it
to community organising. From a base
of knowledge of one activity, branches
will grow and the merging of informa¬
tion technologies will become clear.
Just remember that the label is
irrelevant. Word processors, giant main¬
frames, intelligent terminals, personal
computers are all manifestations of
computing power. Do not dismiss or
ignore any system because of its label.
Look at what it actually does, the
manufacturer’s support, software avail¬
ability, costs and all the other good bits
of advice.
With introductory material, it is
much more important to get stuck into
something you enjoy reading or listen¬
ing to and which you understand than
to worry whether it is the ideal, most
comprehensive, most updated book or
tape. None of them are. But there is a
lot of extremely good and useful
material available.
Now for a closer look at the tapes
and books I have already mentioned.
Top of my pops
Mike Eaton’s tape How To Choose
Your Small Business Computer does
everything just about right. My main
reservations lie with the medium, not
the message.
The tape lasts about an hour. It
consists primarily of Eaton talking,
although it is interspersed with a female
voice and snatches of muzak as chapter
How
to
. .small
business
J Mike Eaton
The National Computing Centre
headings. In addition there is a very use¬
ful little booklet with practical check¬
lists.
These checklists give a flavour of the
straightforward, practical common sense
and advice given by Eaton. He gives
guidelines, for example, on how to esti¬
mate File sizes. Multiply the number of
customers and suppliers each by 150.
Multiply items supplied to customers
by 90 and actual stock items by 50.
Each of these numbers is a typical
number of characters needed to describe
the relevant item. Add all these figures
together, multiply by three for safety
and future growth and the result, very
roughly, is the amount of disk storage
you might need. He stresses the rough¬
ness of these figures. But by offering
this rule of thumb, it at least offers a
feel for the size and cost of a system.
Other checklists cover how to define
minimum requirements in more detail
(invoices, stock items, financial analysis,
payroll and special factors, like seasonal
workloads), how to evaluate a software
package, how to minimise risks and
what to do before and after the
computer arrives.
Eaton’s approach is laced with the
fruits of experience. As far as possible,
he has no special ‘computer cultural’
bias. He includes the ‘top end of the
personal computer range’. Although his
main emphasis is on data processing, he
has a special section on word processors.
His analogies are generally good
(although I don’t like his comparison
of an operating system with the instinc¬
tive genetic inheritance in human
beings!). In fact, for the market aimed at,
I Find the content almost faultless.
But whether or not you find this
your cup of tea depends on your atti¬
tudes to tapes in general and to the
particular production techniques used
on this one in particular. With a tape,
you can get on with other things while
listening. On the other hand you cannot
read it on a train journey or in front of
the telly. A voice can be more expres¬
sive than text on a page, but it is
difficult to linger over a particular item
on tape and impossible to flick through
as you might with a book, although you
could note the timings at which parti¬
cular words are spoken.
These reservations and advantages
apply to any tape. In producing this
tape, the National Computing Centre
has gone for the single-voice lecture
format. Eaton gives a relaxed and
fluent talk but having a single voice
becomes hypnotic and a bit boring at
times. In places I found myself drifting
off, then realising a chunk had passed
me by without anything registering.
The Olivetti tape (see below) is much
livelier because it has more voices. But,
despite the reservations, I think the
Eaton tape plus booklet are excellent
value for money.
Sales talk
The Olivetti Guide to Buying a Business
Computer has two advantages over
the Eaton tape: it is free and it is easier
on the ear. But it is nowhere near as
good as Eaton’s offering.
To be fair, it doesn’t really pretend
to rival Eaton’s scope. And it is some¬
thing more than just a straight sales
pitch. It makes a neat complement to
Eaton’s views as its general drift is the
same: software and support are more
important than hardware.
Instead of having one person read
the text, Olivetti has used a team from
LBC, London’s commercial news radio
station. Douglas Cameron, Douglas
Moffat and Anna Barrie present the
information like a news report.
Anna acts as the news reporter pro¬
viding information on a survey conduc¬
ted by Olivetti of businessmen’s
attitudes to computers. The two
Douglases comment on the fears
expressed by the businessmen and give
details of some Olivetti products. As the
tape comes from the business computer
side of Olivetti, there is an emphasis on
data processing, stock control and finan¬
cial and accounting management rather
than on word processing. Although the
LBC team raise all the right points, they
are a bit too glib in dismissing problems;
in some cases much too glib.
For example, the Olivetti study
found that people were worried about
the reorganisation needed if you install
a computer. ‘In fact a computer can be
installed with no disruption whatso¬
ever,’ is the bland answer. This is
rubbish. Every computer system leads
to some form of work and job re¬
organisation. It is no good pretending it
doesn’t. The tape also summarily and
incorrectly dismisses fears about system
breakdowns and ‘hidden costs’. But the
fact that the tape is a freebie from a
manufacturer will naturally alert the
listener to any soft or hard sell. By
showing what can be done with audio
presentation and by talking much
commonsense as well as much sales
spiel, this is an imaginative and useful
piece of sales material.
The moving
cursor writes
Morgan and Wood’s Word Processing
suffers from the ‘culture gap’ problem.
When it sticks to describing what word
processors do, it is excellent both in
content and style. But it begins to
PCW 133
msm
become ragged when trying to relate
word processing to other computing
and communications developments.
The first three chapters are particu¬
larly good: What is a word processor;
hardware; and software. But it loosened
the tight grip of these chapters in the
next one, which contains a ragbag
of capabilities under the title ‘machine
layout’.
It has some skimpy and disappoint¬
ing material on staff and the future
and doesn’t really deal adequately
with the relationship between WP and
other information technologies. Local
networks, which are of great signifi¬
cance in office automation, are men¬
tioned only towards the end, en passant.
But it has some sensible material on
choosing and implementing systems.
The culture gap problem means that it
views the world primarily down the
barrel of a word processor. As an intro¬
duction to the roots of word processing,
this book is a very good starting point,
provided you are aware that later you
will have to branch out into other
subjects.
An aptitude for it
Wood and Morgan treat office staff
problems primarily as an extension
of computer systems development.
They also focus on workstation ergono¬
mics for operaters (VDUs and eyestrain
in particular). But the office provides
a unique and complex environment,
with many more new staff challenges
to be faced.
As part of its general consultancy
and research services, Urwick Nexoshas
produced an interesting report called
Staff Attitudes and Aptitudes by Emma
Bird which examines some of these new
challenges. The first part examines staff
reactions to change, ergonomics,
training and the role of trade unions.
Her message is clear: ‘To obtain maxi¬
mum productivity from the new system
it is essential to have staff support and
the key to gaining this support is to
involve staff in the change process from
the start.’
The second part examines initial
results from an Urwick Nexos study
into identifying the skills and attributes
which determine whether or not an
individual will be proficient and conten¬
ted when working with electronic
office systems.
The main characteristics identified in
the study were good skills in English,
problem solving ability, interest in
information technology, accurate and
fast typing, and logical thinking.
The report is pricey for what it is,
but it is meant to be viewed as part of a
spectrum of publications and research
activity into office systems, not just as
a one-off publication. When more
results of the aptitude study become
available, more meat will be available to
flesh out what is still a skeletal theory.
Anyone in office automation should
be aware of the factors highlighted by
Emma Bird. Some managers will
disagree with her recommendation for
more industrial democracy. But to
ignore the human factor is to set the
scene for strife, and will probably lead
to inhumanity in the systems developed.
Management has a right to manage.
But staff have a right to be treated like
human beings. This report is a useful
contribution to making this point.
Cryptic primer
Data encryption is an important method
of protecting data. A book which
describes itself as the ‘first accessible
step-by-step guide to both theory and
applications’ sounds welcoming.
Cryptography — A Primer by Alan G
Konheim unfortunately fails to live up
to the blurb. It is more a textbook of
cryptography than an ‘accessible guide’.
It has about 400 pages stacked with
equations. As such it is of use to anyone
who is prepared to delve into the
subject in depth.
Konheim says the books is an intro¬
ductory 7 one because it doesn’t attempt
to cover all methods of encipherment.
This may be true but it is still a pretty
detailed and comprehensive book.
Publishers should be more careful
about the way they describe books like
this, particularly when the price is
dearly aimed at a specialist market.
This month’s Bookfare included:
How to Choose your Small Business
Computer by J Mike Eaton (National
Computing Centre, cassette tape and
booklet,
The Olivetti Guide to Buying a Business
Computer (British Olivetti Ltd, 30
Berkeley Square, London W1X 6AH,
cassette tape, free to business people.)
Word Processing by Richard Morgan
and Brian Wood (Oyez Publishing,
£9.95)
Staff Attitudes and Aptitudes by Dr
Emma Bird (Urwick Nexos, Farnham
Common, £15.00)
Cryptography — A Primer by Alan G
Konheim (Wiley-Interscience, £23.40)
134 PCW
Sinclair ZX8I Personal Compi
the heart of a system
that grows with you.
1980 saw a genuine breakthrough -
the Sinclair ZX80, world’s first com¬
plete personal computer for under
£100. Not surprisingly, over 50,000
were sold.
In March 1981, the Sinclair lead
increased dramatically. For just
£69.95 the Sinclair ZX81 offers even
more advanced facilities at an even
lower price. Initially, even we were
surprised by the demand - over
50,000 in the first 3 months!
Today, the Sinclair ZX81 is the
heart of a computer system. You can
add 16-times more memory with the
ZX RAM pack. The ZX Printer offers
an unbeatable combination of
performance and price. And the ZX
Software library is growing every day.
Lower price: higher capability
With the ZX81, it’s still very simple to
teach yourself computing, but the
ZX81 packs even greater working
capability than the ZX80.
It uses the same micro-processor,
but incorporates a new, more power¬
ful 8K BASIC ROM - the ‘trained
intelligence’ of the computer. This
chip works in decimals, handles logs
and trig, allows you to plot graphs,
and builds up animated displays.
And the ZX81 incorporates other
operation refinements - the facility
to load and save named programs
on cassette, for example, and to
drive the new ZX Printer.
Every ZX81 comes with a comprehensive, specially- written
manual - a complete course in BASIC programming, from
first principles to complex programs.
136 PCW
Higher specification, lower price -
how’s it done?
Quite simply, by design. The ZX80
reduced the chips in a working
computer from 40 or so, to 21. The
ZX81 reduces the 21 to 4!
The secret lies in a totally new
master chip. Designed by Sinclair
and custom-built in Britain, this
unique chip replaces 18 chips from
the ZX80!
New, improved specification
• Z80A micro-processor - new
faster version of the famous Z80
chip, widely recognised as the best
ever made.
• Unique ‘one-touch’ key word
entry: the ZX81 eliminates a great
deal of tiresome typing. Key words
(RUN, LIST, PRINT, etc.) have their
own single-key entry.
• Unique syntax-check and report
codes identify programming errors
immediately.
• Full range of mathematical and
scientific functions accurate to eight
decimal places.
• Graph-drawing and animated-
display facilities.
• Multi-dimensional string and
numerical arrays.
• Up to 26 FOR/NEXT loops.
• Randomise function-useful for
games as well as serious applications.
• Cassette LOAD and SAVE with
named programs.
• IK-byte RAM expandable to 16K
bytes with Sinclair RAM pack.
• Able to drive the new Sinclair
printer.
• Advanced 4-chip design: micro¬
processor, ROM, RAM, plus master
chip - unique, custom-built chip
replacing 18 ZX80 chips.
Kit or built - it’s up to you!
You’ll be surprised how easy the
ZX81 kit is to build: just four chips to
assemble (plus, of course the other
discrete components) - a few hours’
work with a fine-tipped soldering iron.
And you may already have a suitable
mains adaptor - 600 mA at 9 V DC
nominal unregulated (supplied with
built version).
Kit and built versions come com¬
plete with all leads to connect to
your TV (colour or black and white)
and cassette recorder.
16K-byte RAM
pack for massive
add-on memory.
Designed as a complete module to
fit your Sinclair ZX80 orZX81, the
RAM pack simply plugs into the
existing expansion port at the rear
of the computer to multiply your
data/program storage by 16!
Use it for long and complex
programs or as a personal database.
Yet it costs as little as half the price
of competitive additional memory.
With the RAM pack, you can
also run some of the more sophisti¬
cated ZX Software - the Business &
Household management systems
for example.
How to order your ZX81
BY PHONE - Access, Barclaycard or
Trustcard holders can call
01-200 0200 for personal attention
24 hours a day, every day.
BY FREEPOST - use the no-stamp-
needed coupon below. You can pay
PTo: Sinclair Research Ltd, FREEPOST 7, Cambridge, CB21YY.
by cheque, postal order, Access,
Barclaycard or Trustcard.
EITHER WAY - please allow up to
28 days for delivery. And there’s a
14-day money-back option. We want
you to be satisfied beyond doubt -
and we have no doubt that you will be.
Item
Code
Item price
£
Order
Total
£
Sinclair ZX81 Personal Computer kit(s). Price includes
ZX81 BASIC manual, excludes mains adaptor.
49.95
Ready-assembled SinclairZX81 Personal Computer(s).
Price includes ZX81 BASIC manual and mains adaptor.
69.95
Mains Adaptor(s) (600 mA at 9 V DC nominal unregulated).
8.95
49.95
16K-BYTE RAM pack.
49.95
Sinclair ZX Printer.
19.95
8K BASIC ROM to fitZX80.
2.95
Post and Packing.
RETUI
REM I
the ZX Printer
for only £49.^
Designed exclusively for use with
the ZX81 (and ZX80 with 8K BASIC
ROM), the printer offers full alpha-
numerics and highly sophisticated
graphics.
A special feature is COPY, which
prints out exactly what is on the
whole TV screen without the need
for further intructions.
At last you can have a hard copy
of your program listings-particularly
useful when writing or editing
programs.
And of course you can print out
your results for permanent records
or sending to a friend.
Printing speed is 50 characters
per second, with 32 characters per
line and 9 lines per vertical inch.
The ZX Printer connects to the rear
of your computer - using a stackable
connector so you can plug in a RAM
pack as well. A roll of paper (65 ft
long x 4 in wide) is supplied, along
with full instructions.
6 Kings Parade, Cambridge, Cambs., CB21SN.
Tel: (0276) 66104 & 21282.
□ Please tick if you require a VAT receipt TOTAL £
*1 enclose a cheque/postal order payable to Sinclair Research Ltd, for £_
'Please charge to my Access/Barclaycard/Trustcard account no.
'Please delete/complete as applicable. I_I_i_1_I_l_ 1 I I 1 I I I
Please print.
Name: Mr/Mrs/Miss 1_I_I_1_1_I_I_I_I_1_I_ I _I_I_I_ I _ 1111
Address: 1 I M I 1 I 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 I 1 I I I 1 1 1 I
| FREEPOST - no stamp needed. p cwn |
PCW 137
How the ZX8I compares with other personal computers
SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION
ZX81
ZX80
ACORN
APPLE II
PET
TRS80
TRS80
ATOM
PLUS
2001
LEVEL 1
LEVEL II
ROM
8K
4K
8K
8K
14K
4K
12K
GUIDE PRICE
Basic unit - inc. VAT
£70
£100
£175
£630
£435
£290
£375
Unit plus 16K RAM (*12K RAM)
£120
£150
£285*
£630
£530
£360
£375
COMMANDS
LIST, LOAD, NEW, RUN, SAVE
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
STATEMENTS
PRINT, INPUT, LET, GOTO,
GOSUB/RETURN, FOR/NEXT IF/THEN
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
STEP
•
•
•
•
•
•
TAB
•
•
•
•
•
ARITHMETIC
ABS.RND
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
FUNCTIONS
INT
•
•
•
•
•
ATN, COS, EXP, LOG, SGN, SIN, SQR, TAN
•
•
•
•
ARCSIN, ARCOS
•
STRING
CHR0
•
•
•
•
•
FUNCTIONS
LEN
•
•
•
•
•
ASC(CODE), STRJ3, VAL, INKEY0
•
•
•
NUMBERS
FLOATING PT±10 ±38
•
•
•
•
•
INTEGERS
•
•
•
•
•
NUMERIC
A-Z
•
•
VARIABLES
AA-Z0
•
•
•
An-Zn, n=any alphanumeric string
•
•
STRING
AS&BS
•
VARIABLES
AS to ZS
•
•
•
An£ to Zn$ n = any alphanumeric character
•
•
•
NUMERIC
SINGLE DIMENSIONAL
•
•
•
ARRAYS
MULTI DIMENSIONAL
•
•
•
•
DISPLAY
ROWS
24
24
16
24
25
16
16
COLUMNS
32
32
32
40
40
64
64
LOW RES GRAPHICS (<7000 pixels)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
HI RES GRAPHICS (>40000 pixels)
•
•
SPECIAL
USR (CALL, LINK)
•
•
•
•
•
•
FEATURES
PEEK, POKE (OR EQUIV)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sinclair software
on cassette.
The unprecedented popularity of the
ZX Series of Sinclair Personal
Computers has generated a large
volume of programs written by users.
Sinclair has undertaken to
publish the most elegant of these on
pre-recorded cassettes. Each pro¬
gram is carefully vetted for interest
and quality, and then grouped with
others to form single-subject
cassettes.
Software currently available
includes games, junior education,
and business/household manage¬
ment systems. You’ll receive a
Sinclair ZX Software catalogue with
yourZX81 - or see our separate
advertisement in this magazine.
The ultimate course
in ZX8I BASIC
programming.
Some people prefer to learn their
programming from books. For them,
the ZX81 BASIC manual is ideal.
But many have expressed a
preference to learn on the machine,
through the machine. Hence the
new cassette-based ZX81 Learning
Lab.
The package comprises a 160-
page manual and 8 cassettes. 20
programs, each demonstrating a
particular aspect of ZX81 program¬
ming, are spread over 6 of the
cassettes. The other two are blank
practice cassettes.
Full details with yourSinclairZX81.
If you own a
Sinclair ZX80...
The new 8K BASIC ROM used in the
Sinclair ZX81 is available to ZX80
owners as a drop-in replacement
chip. (Complete with new keyboard
template and operating manual.)
With the exception of animated
graphics, all the advanced features
of the ZX81 are now available on
yourZX80 - including the ability to
drive the Sinclair ZX Printer.
Sinclair -
ZX8I
6 Kings Parade, Cambridge, Cambs., CB21SN.
Tel: (0276) 66104 & 21282.
138 PCW
INTERRUPT
^NOT-SO-OPENP"
Sesame
Jeff Taylor continues his look at US computer literacy projects.
Sesame Place has the largest collection
of educational computers in the
country, or so claim its founders in their
publicity material. A joint venture of
Children’s Television Workshop and
Busch Entertainment Group, Sesame
Place is located near Oxford Valley
Mall, a wealthy suburb north of Phila¬
delphia. As Dennis Sullivan, chief soft¬
ware designer for the park, points out,
CTW has been subsidised by grants for
the past ten years; these funds are now
drying up and it needs new sources of
revenue. Sesame Place represents the
vanguard of CTW’s new commercial
interests, which will be cloned in six
other sites around the country. As
Sullivan states, the software, designed
primarily to entertain but with second¬
ary educational value, will soon be
offered for sale to the exploding home
computer market: ‘We took academic
subjects and built games around key
concepts. The educational concept
came first.’ (Joyce Hakansson, SP’s
computer games co-ordinator, in
Recreational Computing , MayJune,
1981.)
Once the park entrance fee of
85.45 is paid, tokens are available for
using the computers at a cost of three
for a dollar, each one worth four
minutes of computer time. The token
gives one access to nearly 70 Apple
computers, linked in a Nestar network
and bullet-proofed in heavy metal with
touch-sensitive screens. Despite edu¬
cational overtones, arcade mercantilism
prevails, so that when four minutes are
up the game is over, whether or not the
user is left halfway through, frustrated
by this new ‘learning’ experience.
Whether designed to entertain or to
educate, the games are disappointing
on both counts, and lurking in the
wings of the Computer Gallery are the
old faithfuls, Space Invaders and
Asteroids, to lure and satiate the
addicted.
Sesame Place is, in part, aspiring to
fulfil a hands-on science education
function, modelled on the Explora-
torium in San Francisco and on the
Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley,
from where its key staff have emerged.
Yet it provides precious little education
about computers, much less about the
micro revolution. There is nothing to
inform the visitor that the machines
from which they are being fed canned
CAI trivia are in fact microcomputers,
that they are not just terminals to a
manframe. As an afterthought, tucked
away on a side wall is a cryptic and un¬
titled display of Apple circuit boards,
with inscrutable descriptions of func¬
tions. I observed no one being dis¬
tracted from spending money on the
machines in order to try to decipher
this free attraction. Nowhere is there,
for example, a microscope with a chip
to gaze at and by which to be amazed
into beginning to fathom just how
potentially fundamental and pervasive is
this new technology. Nowhere is there a
small library in which to browse
through books and journals that might
be concerned with the social implica¬
tions of the technology, or even a
casually displayed bibliography to such.
Nor are there updated newsclippings
and longer articles displayed that might
begin to make relevant this new tech¬
nology to parents whose children are
being so obsessively entertained by it.
Not even a video is in evidence, on
which could be shown offerings such
as ‘Now the Chips are Down’ to the
uninformed. At least, one would
think, one machine could be spared to
offer an educational program that
begins to inform about another recent
technology: the simulation of Three-
Mile Island now available for the Apple.
Although I may be overcritical of
Sesame Place, especially when it is seen
in context with other amusement parks
that offer only passive experiences built
around thrill rides, it is clear that, as a
commercial venture, it is designed pri¬
marily to please and entertain rather
than to provoke and educate. Its
commercial ties with Busch, the hand
from which it is fed, prevent its pre¬
senting contentious material, although
there seems little excuse, beyond lack of
awareness among staff, for missing so
many opportunities to demystify the
technology. In fact, the Gallery can be
seen to have the opposite effect; instead
of exploiting the educational oppor¬
tunity when a machine is down by
informing passers-by that the computer
is a fallible mechanism, it is chosen to
display the anthropomorphic message:
‘Computer is resting’.
On the positive side, Sesame Place
is beginning to offer special workshops
for teachers and pupils; one is called
‘Meet the Playful Computer’, and aims
to teach how computers work and
‘what they can and can’t do’, rather
than concentrating on programming. In
a very limited sense, it is beginning to
offer public access to computers and to
education about them. However, the
cost of frequently entering the park and
paying for computer time ensures
accessibility to only the advantaged, a
fact I was to encounter throughout my
tour.
Franklin Institute
It is not so much that the Franklin
Institute in Philadelphia would not like
to educate about microtechnology, as
one of its staff explained, as it is a lack
of funds. Yet, the Institute has nine
Apple computers buried in exhibits,
none of which inform the visitor that
they are computer-driven. It would
seem an important opportunity missed
not to sacrifice at least one exhibit in
order to use a microcomputer to facili¬
tate education about itself. One likely
candidate, an 8ft tall plywood box with
screen and keypad with which the
visitor interacts in order to obtain a
‘personalised’ suggested tour of the
Institute, might seem obviously to be
a computer, reminiscent of popular
mythology of what computers are
supposed to look like. Yet, sitting
behind the box on a shelf, invisible to
the public, is a microcomputer; the
remaining space is empty. The Franklin
Institute cannot afford to begin to
educate the public about the technology
that will dominate civilisation to the
end of the century, yet it can afford to
perpetuate myths about the technology
before an unsophisticated audience.
The CCM
The Capital Children’s Museum, in a
Washington DC ghetto, has just been
donated 30 Atari computers, Warner-
Amex being eager to publicise and
dominate the personal computer
market. The Museum now considers
itself the largest public computer
access utility on the East Coast, dis¬
counting Sesame Place which the
Museum considers an arcade. The
Museum is delightfully inexpensive to
enter and it must be a cultural educa¬
tion for many of its economically-
advantaged visitors to venture into a
ghetto neighbourhood to reach it. The
Museum is also in the genre of
exciting hands-on facilities for children,
and will be using the computers in its
exhibit ‘Communications’ to open later
this year, in existing exhibits, and in the
‘Future Center’, a computer classroom
that has just begun running courses in
learning how to ‘play’ with computers
as well as how to program.
The museum is sensitive to the
‘further disenfranchisement of the
poor’, as Executive Director Ann
Lewin describes the major problem that
will be exacerbated by the proliferation
of computers; she sees the Museum’s
role as one of addressing this by provid¬
ing a public-access computer centre in
an area accessible to the ‘permanent
underclass’. Yet, in outlining the objec¬
tives for a computer activity at the
Museum, staff have not included the
spread of awareness concerning such
social implications among the ten
listed.
The ‘Communications’ exhibit
(yet to open) sounds promising in its
attempt to reveal computer applica¬
tions such as graphics, robotics, text
editing, electronic mail, simulations.
PCVV 139
Over the last two year's
more than 1,000 completely non-technical users
in the UK alone used one British program to keep student records,
personnel files, mailing lists, sales records, parrot breeding records,
man hole cover records, electoral roll records, blood donor records,
pharmacy records, patient-records, stock records, library lists, dating
agency files, parts files, exchange rate files, employment files, accoun¬
tant and solicitors re.cords, farm records, garage records etc, etc.
How could YOU use Compsoft’s DMS* (Data
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‘Available on CP/M with link to Wordstar ox
Commodore machines linking to Woxdcraft,
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Designed with the non-computer expert in mind, DMS users, ranging from those in the smallest to
those in the largest multi-national companies, have followed the simple screen instructions to create
their own file, store, amend, sort and search for information.
Searching on multiple parameters is easy, and these pre-selected batches of records can then be
processed (e.g. update all my prices by 5% and recalculate the new inventory value), displayed,
passed to the report generator, or merged with other files.
Batches of data may be deleted, and the space automatically re-used. Most importantly the file
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DMS can store up to 1,000 characters per record, and is backed up by its own British authors from
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DMS will run on Equinox, PET (including 96K), Rair, Cromemco, Superbrain (includ¬
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Telephone: Guildford 0483 505918/39665.
140 PCW
INTERRUPT
games, an electronic library and musical
composition, and one hopes there will
be no surcharge to have access to this
exhibit.
Finally, despite Museum efforts
to redress potential imbalance by pro¬
viding more equal access to computing,
the unfortunate decision has been taken
by them to charge a fee of $7 per
session for classroom instruction, which
must certainly exclude the ‘permanent
underclass’ in whose neighbourhood the
Museum is located, and give crucial
extra advantage to the already advan¬
taged who can afford to become
computer literate.
Oakridge
Oakridge, Tennessee, infamous as the
birthplace of nuclear power, is home
of the Museum of Science and Energy.
Formerly known as the Atomic Energy
Museum, the establishment is controlled
by the Department of Energy, which
decided to change the name as a public
relations move following Three-Mile
Island. The new title is a misnomer,
since, although concerned with energy,
the Museum is not concerned with
Science and certainly not with scientific
objectivity per se. In ‘educating’ the
public with regard to energy issues, the
Museum offers one of the country’s
largest public accesses to computers.
It is DOE policy deliberately not to
educate about computers but, rather,
with , and the reasons are not merely
bureaucratic. Already the Museum is
primarily concerned with presenting
a clear image of what is to many of the
public a blemished technology
(nuclear). Computers have proven
effective as a means for holding public
attention at museum exhibits, so that
to actively point out to the public that
the machines they are using are in fact
computers, a technology for which
many of the public is blemished as well,
may prove conterproductive.
For most of the people I interviewed
at the Museum, this was their first time
‘touching’ a computer and half of them
didn’t realise that the machines were
computers. Here is a case of free public
access to computers, yet without the
crucial educational point being made
that these machines are manifestations
of a new technology that will dominate
the rest of their lives (that is, unless the
technology about which the computers
are being used to educate doesn’t first
bring mankind to a hasty end!).
As with the Franklin Institute,
Sesame Place and the Capital Children’s
Museum, it is partly a case of not being
aware of the potential social implica¬
tions, and therefore not including any¬
thing to contribute towards a more
informed public. Yet a new motive
begins to appear here: conflicts of
interest. In a sense it could be predicted
that, even if aware of the need to
stimulate public education concerning
the social implications of microtech¬
nology, at Sesame Place and the Capital
Children’s Museum the threatening and
political nature of such material might
be offensive to some and thereby jeo¬
pardise funding, as happens with
American television.
It is interesting to note a further
computer-related conflict of interest at
the Oakridge Museum. The ‘Energy
Van’ that brings the museum presenta¬
tion to outlying, areas has Apples on
board, one of which was originally
programmed to continually collect and
graph data concerning the public’s
feelings on nuclear and other energies,
so that people could access the data
and add their views to the bank. Sensing
that the dissemination of such infor¬
mation could be counterproductive
to its aims, the DOE put an abrupt halt
to this form of computer and energy
education, claiming that the availability
of such information could prejudice
people. (It is a similarly elitist argument
that seems to suppress information con¬
cerning the social implications of micro¬
technology.) The program exists on
computer inside the Museum now,
soon to be retired, yet only graphs
visitors’ responses for a given day,
clearing its memory when the machine
is shut off at night. The DOE sees no
value in compiling a profile of data
on what people actually feel about
energy issues, and visitors to the
museum are so illiterate of the tech¬
nology and its potential social use and
misuse that they would not think to
question why this opportunity for
democratisation is being diluted.
Three
school projects
A brief stop in each of three schools
en route to California yielded data
that contributes to this travelogue
of missed opportunities in micro-
related education.
In nearby Knoxville, Mike Moshel is
sponsored by the NSF to develop a
Pascal teaching system using graphics. I
had the opportunity to see the system
field-tested in a classroom of 12
students, of whom four were women.
This programming class, to run a term,
attempts to operate around the limita¬
tions of having only two machines in a
classroom. Students work in groups of
three and the idea is that when two
groups are at the machines, the rest
are working at their seats on solving set
problems, or on their required projects.
This and another class that was testing
the material had lost six students, all
female. The graphics mode is meant to
motivate the students to learn pro¬
gramming, so that typical projects
are the construction of state maps,
or arcade-like combat simulations. Yet,
this motivation wears off quickly after
the first three sessions when the hard
work begins, according to teacher Bill
Baird, so that in the session I observed
(the eighth), few students at their seats
were involved with their work but were
rather passing time. The classroom itself
was barren, with no windows, and there
was certainly no effort to make the
students aware of the micro revolution
by providing books, journals, a collec¬
tion of newsclippings to which they
could contribute, etc. I engaged some
students in coversations concerning
home banking via computer which a
local banking firm in Knoxville had just
undertaken to promote in a big way.
They were keen to contribute to this
discussion, eager to speculate on the
motives of the bank, yet it would not
normally have been part of their
experience in this programming class.
Not only was the opportunity missed
to educate these students more widely
concerning the social implications of
microelectronics, but such exposure
could prove motivating for some who
otherwise might not see the relevance to
their lives of learning programming.
Issues such as the exploitation of Third
World women by the semiconductor
industry, or the threat of automation
to their own future jobs (since women,
the itinerant workforce, are the first
to go) might have struck a responsive
chord with these otherwise unmotivated
female students.
The philosphy of Lamplighter School
is displayed in tasteful lettering on the
wall adjoining its pleasant visitors’
reception: ‘Not a Vessel to be Filled,
but rather a Lamp to be Lighted’. A
private, open-plan elementary school in
wealthy North Dallas, Lamplighter is
a test-bed and showcase for nearby
Texas Instruments’ version of Logo, a
computing language developed by
Seymour Papert, Professor at MIT, and
author of Mindstorms. Papert based
much of his research here among advan¬
taged children, developing this system
which purports to put the child in
control of the computer rather than vice
versa, which he sees as the relationship
reinforced by most CAI (computer-
aided instruction). Drill and practice
CAI, formerly in evidence at Lamp¬
lighter, has been discreetly dropped
from the curriculum in favour of the
discovery-based Logo.
I was struck here by the children’s
obvious motivation to use Logo, and by
the missed opportunity of building
upon this motivation to expose these
children to the possible futures with
microtechnology: either the potential
for a caring society, a resurgence of
Ancient Athens with microtechnology
the slave; or for an even more polarised
and divided society, with the shrinking
number of jobs going to those advan¬
taged enough to gain access to com¬
puting skills at this early stage, and with
the gulf between the haves and have-nots
(the knows and the know-nots) growing
ever wider. It would be an ideal oppor¬
tunity to facilitate empathy in these
extremely advantaged children for the
present and potential future condition
of the disadvantaged. Such a chord
struck early could ring through these
children’s lives and would at last repre¬
sent some effort at redressing the
inequity that arises from giving children
such as those at Lamplighter still further
advantage through their access to
computing.
Outside Albuquerque, Judith Hakes
has a National Science Foundation grant
to develop software to teach the Pueblo
Indian schoolchildren science and
maths-related concepts, using the tradi¬
tional Pueblo storytelling techniques
and other cultural links in the programs.
I visited a school in Acoma, 60 miles
west of Albuquerque, where the field
development work was taking place in
PCW 141
INTERRUPT
a fifth-grade class. Using animated
graphics, a story is told about the sun
and rain, after which children in pairs
play at catching raindrops from clouds,
using a paddle to manipulate an elec¬
tronic bucket on the screen, after which
the results are graphed on paper. The
idea of catching is engrained in Pueblo
culture, since there is an annual feast
day when gifts are thrown from the
rooftops and children catch them. It
represents a more humanistic use of the
medium to reinforce catching rather
than shooting down.
Prior to vising the school, I had the
opportunity to speak to a young Indian
at the Institute of American Indian Art
in Sante Fe to gauge his feelings
concerning this integration of Pueblo
culture into schools. His response was
vehemently opposed to what he saw as
outsiders using Pueblo children
as guinea pigs. I retorted that, if success¬
ful, this software could validate Pueblo
storytelling technique as an educational
method that could be used elsewhere,
and in a sense be a medium for widely
disseminating traditional Pueblo values.
His response was still more
vehement: Pueblo children relating to
computers rather than to the wisdom
of their elders, the traditional story¬
tellers, will completely decimate this
dying culture which has clung so long
to its traditions.
After my visit to the school, my
conversation with the Sante Fe Indian
came back to me. I had learned that all
but three of the school’s teachers, most
of whom are white, commute the 60
miles from Albuquerque, and it occured
to me that if indeed the traditional
storytelling technique was so highly
valued by the NSF project, would it not
be far more sensible to use humans to
tell the stories, preferably the local
elders, who are otherwise unemployed?
Unemployment is extremely high
among the locals, whose dwellings
appear devastatingly poor in comparison
to the Westernised and well-equipped
school. Most young people move off to
Albuquerque for industrial work when
they are old enough, and one can
empathise with the short-term needs of
Indians to gain Western skills to leave
their traditional homes in order to
make a decent living wage. Yet, in the
not so long-term, these jobs will be
automated anyway and the Pueblo will
be left with no culture. The micro¬
revolution could make it advantageous
to the Pueblo that their culture be
resurrected, that their arts once again
flourish. Facilitating awareness of the
microrevolution, of its possible social
impact among the Pueblo, could provide
a means to motivate them to re¬
investigate their own culture.
The plight of the Pueblo reflects
some more general implications of
microtechnology for the Third World.
The vital difference is that when
Western automation brings to a sharp
halt economic development in the Third
World by undercutting costs of even
cheap labour there and stealing back
recently acquired markets, nuclear pro¬
liferation allows them a potent threat of
retaliation.
This is not to say that computers
are not an appropriate technology in
Pueblo schools. Computer literacy could
enhance employment skills in jobs that
will not be so quickly automated and,
as mentioned, could facilitate question¬
ing about the implications of micro¬
technology for the Pueblo. But in auto¬
mating traditions, the NSF project is
merely attempting to foist onto the
Pueblo a more palatable CAI, offering
Western video values that put the
computer rather than the child in
control, just the kind of CAI that
advantaged schools such as Lamplighter
are booting out. This disturbing pattern
is becoming more evident, as dedicated
non-programmable machines coming
onto the market threaten to find their
way into disadvantaged schools in order
to reinforce basic skills and improve
minimal competency test scores. This in
itself would not be so bad, if it were not
that these systems will be bought up by
poorer schools instead of programmable
systems that can offer access to work-
related computer literacy. The ironic
implications are that the poor may
become literate in traditional skills but
in doing so will be cut out from
computer-related work.
In California
From the Lawrence Hall of Science in
Berkeley has emerged a handful of key
personnel who are involved with other
access-to-computing initiatives, such as
Sesame Place and the Capital
Children’s Museum. After paying a
$2.00 entrance fee, one has free hands-
on access to six terminals and two
microcomputers, programmed with
specific routines, such as stockmarket
games, an animal guessing game, and
Joseph Weizenbaum’s famous Eliza
program. The nearby bookshop is filled
with over 20 books to do with compu¬
ting, only one of which involves itself
with wider social issues, Weizenbaum’s
classic Human Judgement and
Computer Reason. In style it is a book
geared to an academic audience,
although his arguments are extremely
relevant to vital issues. There was no
other material in the Hall that the
average person could obtain to begin
to be informed about the social implica¬
tions of the technology which surrounds
him at Lawrence.
The cruellest irony is that what gains
mass access in the Hall is the program
Eliza, which Weizenbaum developed to
mimic a Rogerian psychotherapist in
order to prove his important points
concerning the dangers and limitations
of artificial intelligence. Yet the Law¬
rence Hall of Science doesn’t even see fit
to at least place above the computer a
modest placard briefly mentioning
Weizenbaum’s intentions and warnings
about Eliza, and directing the interested
to Weizenbaum’s book for further
information.
Downstairs at Lawrence are to be
found rooms full of Apples, Ataris,
PETs and Plato terminals. For #3
per hour you can rent time on Plato,
and classes are given regularly on the
microcomputers at $5 per hour. Atop
a hill overlooking Berkeley and the San
Francisco Bay, the Hall is accessible
only by bus or car. Prices are contin¬
ually rising, which further limits access.
Hopes are expressed by staff, as they
were at the Capital Children’s Museum
in Washington, that eventually the Hall
can afford to subsidise access for dis¬
advantaged people. However, I would
argue that the immediate future will be
the crucial time for gaining access to
computers, to ensure one’s foothold in
the diminishing job market. As Art
Luehrmann, past computer research
director at the Hall and computer
literacy advocate, notes, 75 per cent of
the jobs by 1985 will require skills in
computing. Any delay in making equal
access available now is critical.
Incidentally, Luehrmann was instru¬
mental in the establishment of the
Hall’s computer van, which gives wider
access to computing by travelling to
outlying schools. Yet, even this noble
initiative does little toward balancing
the equity problem since only the
better schools can afford its fee of $250
per visit.
Across the Bay in affluent Marin
County, Dave and Annie Fox have
established what undoubtedly repre¬
sents the crest of a wave of public
access facilities to be set up by enter¬
prising individuals. Housed in one
section of a former school, individuals
can book time on machine ($3 per
hour), arrange ‘computer birthday
parties’ in which party games are
computer games, or attend classes in
programming. Classes run about #5
per hour ($30 for four lVfc-hour
sessions). Books, periodicals and soft¬
ware are also available for sale.
Such an enterprise is established to
cater for demand and it was bold
foresight by the Foxes to predict this
demand and borrow #50,000 from
a bank four years ago to finance the
operation. The advantaged and educa¬
ted public of Marin County is quickly
realising the importance of computer-
related skills for their children’s, and
their own, future employability, and at
present that is interpreted to mean
programming. The Foxes have never
needed to advertise the Center since
this aware public quickly learned of
its existence. The American free enter¬
prise system ensures that privately-run
computing centres will be springing up
around the country in all areas where
people are informed about upcoming
skill needs and can afford to pay for this
kind of service, to fill the need that
schools and other public institutions
are leaving unmet. Such are the con¬
sequences of laissez faire control of a
vital resource, information, that a whole
segment of the population will ensure
its dominance at the expense of the
rest.
A further consequence is that
organisations such as the Marin
County Computing Center are not in
business to inform people about the
social implications of new technology.
Indeed, some of the implications are
critical of their business and threaten¬
ing to the clientele they serve. If clients
demanded such information it would
be different, but the product the public
has been led to believe it needs is a
streamlined computer literacy: pro¬
gramming. So yet another opportunity
is missed to begin to redress the
GOTO page 182
142 PCW
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PCW 143
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9
Casio f x702p
-a Sharp contest
The arrival of the 702p marks the intro¬
duction to the UK market of a second
real pocket computer, the Sharp
PC1211/Tandy being the first. Next
year should see Panasonic’s contender
enter this expanding arena, where the
border between calculators and micro¬
computers grows indistinct. Just to add
to the confusion, Casio have called the
702p a programmable calculator, which
at least allows me to Benchtest it in
Calculator Corner without receiving
rude letters, as I have done from Sharp
owners, saying ‘Hands off — it’s a
computer!’ as if some ego threat was
being posed.
Since only two machines exist at
present in this niche, it seems logical to
compare them in this review, not to say
which is ‘better’, since each has features
the other lacks, but to orient prospec¬
tive buyers toward the machine more
suited to their need.
Hardware
The 702p comes in an ABS plastic case
with a brushed-aluminium facing, the
Casio ‘house style’, and, at 80x165mm,
is rather dumpier or squarer than the
Sharp but the same thickness. Unlike
the Sharp, its travelling case is of the
soft pouch type. The batteries (two
Cr2032 lithium cells) are in a slide top
compartment in the back and give
approx 240 hours’ continuous use. This
same compartment contains a large,
suggestive space with an edge connector
which is obviously designed to receive
ROM and/or RAM modules at a later
date.
The keyboard isanABCD, rather than
QWERTY as on the Sharp, and has 65
keys, rather larger than those of the
502/602p but with a similar feel. There
are two shift keys, FI and F2, so that
all the alpha keys support three func¬
tions while the numeric/calculator keys
support two. This gives sufficient func¬
tions for the whole of the Basic
command set to be implemented by
single key strokes, Sinclair fashion,
which is a nice facility. No lower case
alphas are available and the symbols
are limited to punctuation and arith¬
metic plus *#’, ‘S’ and ‘7r\ The keyboard
is more convenient than the Sharp’s
in that often-used punctuation symbols
such as and # are not shifted
functions.
The display is grey 5x7 dot matrix
LCD with the unique, if useless, addi¬
tion of a rotary contrast control.
Though the display is slightly longer
than that of the Sharp, it displays only
20 characters to Sharp’s 24, the remain¬
ing space being occupied by a ‘Steps
Remaining’ counter which is shown
during program entry and editing.
The now familiar Casio mode annuncia¬
tors are present with the addition of
TRACE and PRT (PRINT), the latter
referring to the FP-2 peripheral printer
which will be available soon.
Firmware
Casio has wisely carried over many of
the functions and features of the
502/602p machines into the 702.
These include the excellent ergonomic
features of dividing the program
memory into 10 registers, each of which
can be executed separately by pressing
P0-P9. The Basic will accept P0-P9 as a
GOSUB destination in addition to line
number addresses and programs can be
executed either by a RUN instruction or
by the relevant P button. The set of
scientific functions is extensive, includ¬
ing hyperbolics, random number,
factional, polar to rectangular and vice
versa, linear regression and standard
deviation in addition to all the standard
Basic maths routines. Angular modes
are DEG, RAD and GRAD, and INT
and FRAC are both supported. A key
called ANS recalls the result of the last
calculation performed, rather like LAST
x on HP calculators. Calculations are
over the standard calculator range
10 ±99 with 10 digit accuracy (12 digit
internal). Numeric formats catered
for are RND (round) to a power of 10,
eg 10* 2 , SET number of significant
figures or decimal places, or may be
specified in a PRINT statement by, for
example, ###.##, as on the Sharp,
although using it is not necessary. The
arithmetic is true algebraic with 20
levels of parenthesis.
Program entry is performed in WRT
mode. Line numbering is not automatic
but the Basic is fully tokenised, one
instruction corresponding to one step
with the number remaining being dis¬
played. Editing is performed by a cursor
which goes into fast stepping when the
or -* key is depressed for more than
a second. Overwrite is automatic with a
backspace delete and an insert which is,
annoyingly, the shift of delete. Unlike
the Sharp, the 702 doesn’t have a cursor
up or down key. Vertical movement
through the program is downward (to
higher line numbers) by pressing EXE
(the equivalent of ENTER or RETURN),
or access to a particular line by LIST n.
LIST also works in RUN mode but then
it automatically scrolls down from the
start and editing is not possible. I per¬
sonally think the Sharp system is more
convenient, since going to the next
lowest line on the Casio requires you to
list the line, involving at least four key
strokes.
Debugging is facilitated by a TRACE
mode which executes one line at a time,
displaying the program register and line
number. Pressing CONT steps to the
next line.
The PASSword protection system
has been incorporated, like that on the
602p. A protected program cannot be
listed, deleted or edited without know¬
ing the password.
Memory
Unlike the Sharp, which has automatic
memory management, Casio has chosen
a user-defined partition similar to that
on the 602p. The starting position is 26
registers (or variables) and 1680
program steps; extra variables are select¬
able in blocks of 10 via the DEFM n
command up to 226 variable and 80
program steps. This represents 256
bytes more memory than the Sharp,
1888 user bytes in all. Memory is, of
course, non-volatile. Attempting to
select more variables than the program
spaces allow results in a memory over¬
flow ERROR message and doesn’t
complete the program.
GOTO page 181
PCW 145
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Aberdeen
MOM Offshore
21 Bon Accord Street
Tel: 0224 22863
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95 Dublin Road
Tel: 0232 49440
Birmingham
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94/96 Hurst Street
Tel: 021 622 7149
Bristol
Senton
27 Nicholas Street
Tel: 0272 276132
Cambridge
Toltec
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Tel: 0223 312347
Cheshire
Holdene
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Wilmslow
Tel: 0625 529486
Dublin
Lendac Data Systems
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Tel: 0001 372052
Edinburgh
Holdene Micro Systems
48 Great King Street
Tel: 031 557 4060
Glasgow
Byteshop Computerland
61 Waterloo Street
Tel: 041 221 7409
Leeds
Holdene Micro Systems
11/12 Rampart Road
Tel: 0532 459459
London
Byteshop Computerland
324 Euston Road, W1
Tel: 01-387 0505
Digitus
9 Macklin Street, WC2
Tel: 01-405 6761
67 Tulsemere Road,' 'sl?W
Tel: 01-670 3674
Manchester
Byteshop Computerland
Piccadilly Station Approach
Tel: 061 236 4737
NSC Computers
29 Hanging Ditch
Tel: 061 832 2269
Newbury
Newbear Computing Store
40 Bartholomew Street
Tel: 0635 30505
Nottingham
Byteshop Computerland
92a Upper Parliament Street,
NG1 6LF
Tel: 0602 40576
Sheffield
Hallam Computer Systems
451 Eccleshall Road
Tel: 0742 663125
Southampton
Xitan Systems
23 Cumberland Place
Tel: 0703 38740
Suffolk
Eurotec Consultants
Little Waldingfield,
Sudbury
Tel: 0787 247959
Surrey
Gemlines
184 London Road, KT2 6QU
Tel: 01-546 9944
Warwicks
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Watford
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Comart Ltd,
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Tel (0480) 215005
Telex 32514 Comart G.
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For the technically minded, Advantage is a
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An auxiliary 8035 processor provides
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146 PCW
BENCHMARKS SUMMARY
We have received a large number of
requests for details of the Benchmark
programs used in our Benchtests so
we’re reprinting them here. You’ll also
find the timings for machines Benchtest-
ed since October last year.
The Benchmark programs, originally
published in Kilobaud , are fairly self-
explanatory and provide a rough rule-
of-thumb guide to the efficiency of the
machines’ Basic interpreters and, to a
lesser extent, to the efficiency of certain
aspects of hardware design. They should
be interpreted as such, and not used as
absolute guides to which machine is
‘better’ than another; this is a decision
which involves a great many factors and
which can only be arrived at by study¬
ing the full Benchtests and by forming
a clear idea of which machine is best
suited to the purpose to which you
intend to put it.
The disk Benchmark timings which
were introduced last year have not
been listed, and neither have the disk
timings been reproduced here as
they do not apply to all machines. As
different dialects of Basic have such
widely different disk I/O formats, we
cannot provide listings of a specific
suite of programs which can run un¬
altered on any machine. Here, how¬
ever, is a summary of what the disk
tests do:
Test 1 OPEN a new file, then im¬
mediately CLOSE it.
Test 2 Using a FOR . . . NEXT loop,
fill two strings, A$ and B$ with 128
As each; OPEN an existing file; using
a FOR . . . NEXT loop, fill each of the
100 records, each of which contains two
fields of 128 characters, with A$ and
B$ in ascending order; CLOSE the file.
Test 3 Identical to Test 2 except that
the records are written in reverse order.
Test 4 OPEN the file; read records 1 to
100 into A? and B$; CLOSE the file.
Test 5 Identical to Test 4 except that
the records are read in reverse order.
Machine
BM1
BM2
BM3
BM4
BM5
BM6
BM7
BM8
SBS-8000
1.8
9.4
29.0
29.0
31.6
44.0
82.5
11.2
Transam Tuscan
2.3
13.0
26.0
27.0
32.0
48.0
68.0
6.0
Vector Graphic VIP
(int)
1.0
3.0
10.9
10.7
11.6
18.2
27.1
3.4
VG VIP (S/prec)
1.0
3.8
10.9
10.7
11.6
20.5
32.7
3.4
VG VIP (D/prec)
—
4.9
39.1
39.9
40.5
49.5
61.1
3.4
ABC 24 integer
1.2
4.0
16.0
15.0
16.0
25.0
38.0
8.0
ABC 24 double prec
—
7.0
54.0
55.0
56.0
68.0
86.0
8.0
Pasca 640
2.0
7.0
19.0
18.0
20.0
36.0
57.0
10.0
NEC PC8000
1.7
83.
18.1
17.8
18.6
29.5
49.2
7.0
Sharp PC-3201
4.0
13.5
35.5
35.5
38.5
67.0
108.0
25.0
TRS-80 III ROM Basic
2.7
10.4
24.3
25.3
47.4
72.5
10.5
—
TRS-80 III disk Basic
2.7
10.5
24.6
25.6
48.3
73.8
10.8
—
TRS-80 Col
2.0
11.3
22.2
23.9
27.0
41.5
61.1
13.0
VIC-20
1.4
8.3
15.5
17.1
18.3
27.2
42.7
9.9
Oki if800
2.2
6.4
16.8
16.8
17.9
31.8
50.7
5.7
Int = Integer Basic
F/P =• Floating point Basic
S/prec = Single precision
D/prec = Double precision
All timings in seconds.
BM1
300 PRINT “S”
BM6
300 PRINT “S”
400 FOR K=1 TO 1000
400 K=0
500 NEXT K
430 DIM M(5)
700 PRINT “E”
500 K=K+1
800 END
510 A=K/2*3+4-5
BM2
300 PRINT “S”
400 K=0
500 K=K+1
600 IF K<1000 THEN 500
700 PRINT “E”
800 END
520 GOSUB 820
530 FOR L=1 TO 5
540 NEXT L
600 IF K<1000 THEN 500
700 PRINT “E”
800 END
820 RETURN
BM3
300 PRINT “S”
400 K=0
500 K=K+1
510 A=K/K*K+K-K
600 IF KC1000 THEN 500
700 PRINT “E”
800 END
BM7
300 PRINT “S”
400 K=0
430 DIM M(5)
500 K=K+1
510 A=K/2*3+4-5
520 GOSUB 820
530 FOR L=1 TO 5
BM4
300 PRINT “S”
400 K=0
535 M(L)=A
540 NEXT L
500 K=K+1
600 IF KC1000 THEN 500
510 A=K/2*3+4-5
700 PRINT “E”
600 IF K<1000 THEN 500
800 END
700 PRINT “E”
820 RETURN
800 END
BM8
300 PRINT “S”
BM5
300 PRINT “S”
400 K-0
400 K=0
500 K=K+1
500 K-K+l
510 A=K/2*3+4-5
520 GOSUB 820
530 A=Kt2
540 B=LOG(K)
550 C = SIN(k)
600 IF K<1000 THEN 500
600 IF K<100 THEN 500
700 PRINT “E”
700 PRINT “E”
800 END
820 RETURN
800 END
PCW welcomes approaches from would-
be writers, even those who may never
have appeared in print before. In
this game it is often those with practical
experience who have important things
to say so we don’t mind too much if
their prose is less than perfect. Providing
that submissions have a sensible struct¬
ure and follow a logical sequence,
we can take care of the polishing. Here
are some tips:
If the article is already written,
simply send it in, making sure that your
name, address and ’phone number
appear on both the article and the
covering letter. If you have submitted
the same work to other magazines you
should tell us — it would be embarrass¬
ing (to say the least) if the same article
appeared in more than one.
If you have an idea for an article or
a series, write us a letter outlining your
ideas. A one or two page synopsis giving
the proposed structure, sequence and
content will give us a sound basis for
discussion. Please give us a daytime
’phone number if possible.
If you have nothing specific in mind
but feel qualified to conduct case
studies, Benchtests or whatever then
drop us a line saying what you’d like to
do and why you think you’re qualified
to do it. We’re not particularly looking
for strings of academic qualifications —
experience carries just as much weight.
Dick Pountain is always on the look¬
out for interesting calculator features
and we wouldn’t mind seeing one or
two readers getting on their soapboxes
but remember: even articles such as
this need a structure.
Reading PCW will give you a good
idea of the style we prefer. You may
notice that we try to avoid pomposity
at one extreme and flippancy at the
other (except in ‘Chip Chat’, that is).
Finally, have a look through back
issue indexes and try not to re-invent
any wheels. Oh, we almost forgot —
PCW does pay for all published work.
PCW 147
Our-monthly pot-pourri of hardware and software tips for the popular micros. If you have a
favourite tip to pass on, send it to: ‘TJ’s Workshop’, PCW, 14 Rathbone Place,
London W1P IDE.
LOOPY SHARP
I have come across a baffling
problem concerning an MZ-
80K Basic program containing
a series of consecutive loops
contained within two nested
loops. During the course of
writing, the program was saved
on tape and loaded back later
for further work. More work
was done, including the delet¬
ion of one of the consecutive
loops. The program worked and
was saved on tape. When later
loaded back, the outer loop
of the group refused to in¬
crement, giving a syntax error
on the line ‘NEXT J\ I spent
many hours trying to find out
what had happened, and it
became evident that to edit a
once-saved program within
such a loop system is courting
disaster. Rewriting the whole
section does not help, and
neither does replacing the
deleted loop. The only way to
cure this if you wish to
retain the outer FOR. . . NEXT
loop as such is to rewrite the
entire program. Luckily there
is a way round this by altering
the form of the outermost
480
490
500
510
520
530
FOR J=1 TO H
FOR C=1 TO 25: PP$ = MID?(NBg(J),C,l): X? = PP?
FOR D=1 TO 37: P? = MID$(A?,D,1)
IF X? = P? THEN G=D: GOTO 530
NEXT D
Q? = MID$(B$,G,1)
Loop 1
Thence to two more consecutive loops 2 and 3
650 NEXT C
750 NEXT J
Listing 1
470 J=1 (added line)
480 IF J > H THEN GOTO 760 (rewritten)
Then as before
*750 J=J+1: GOTO 480 (rewritten)
760 -program continues from 480
loop. Listing 1 is an example
of the enclosed consecutive
loops. After deleting loop 3,
J refused to increment, so the
following cure was effected:
There seems no way of
knowing whether editing
within a loop system is going
to produce this odd effect or
not, but once it has happened
the above two remedies appear
to be the only ones. Whether
this is a peculiarity of Sharp
Basic I do not know. In his
book, Basic Basic , James S
Coan hints at this in the sum¬
mary to Chapter 3-2: ‘Caution
is urged against inadvertently
changing the loop variable
within the loop. . .’ although
he does not enlarge further. I
would be very glad to know
whether this effect can be
prevented, or if it can be pre¬
dicted from the sort of editing
one has in mind.
Now, RUN the following
program:
10 FOR X - 3.1 TO 2.1 STEP -.5
20 IF X = 3.1 GOTO 100
30 IF X « 2.6 GOTO 110
40 IF X = 2.1 GOTO 120
50 PRINT “50”,X: NEXT X
100 PRINT “100”,X: NEXT X
110 PRINT “110”,X: NEXT X
120 PRINT “120”,X: END
You will get:
100 3.1
110 2.6
120 2.1
as you would expect. Now,
alter line 10 to read:
10 FOR X = 3.1 to 2.5 STEP -.3
and alter lines 30 and 40 to:
30 IF X = 2.8 GOTO 110
40 IF X = 2.5 GOTO 120
RUN this and you will get:
100 3.1
50 2.8
50 2.5
100 2.2
SYNTAX ERROR IN 100
There are countless sets of
numbers which will run with
no trouble, and just as many
which will not. It appears to
be a fundamental requirement
of Sharp Basic that in a state¬
ment as at line 10 FOR X =
a TO b STEP C, a and b
should be integers, but c need
not be. The MZ-80K manual
is misleading in that it says
that the initial value and final
value (ie, a and b) may be
variables, constants or
equations.
I am grateful to Paul Streeter
of Sharp UK who referred the
problem to Japan; their way
round this one is, using the
second example values above,
to change lines 20 to 40:
20 IF INT(X*10) = 31 GOTO 100
30 IF INT(X*10) = 28 GOTO 110
40 IF INT(X*10) = 25 GOTO 120
In this form the program
works whatever the value of a
and b. It is interesting to note
that, if only a printout of the
results is needed without the
GOTO direction, which is ob¬
tained by altering line 20 to:
20 PRINT X: NEXT X: END,
the program will again work
with any values of a and b. The
above can also be demon¬
strated on a PET.
G Hayward
LOWER CASE LISTer
This PET program will let you
produce listings with lower¬
case characters. You have to
store the program as an ASC
data file on tape, using OPEN
1,1,1:CMD 1:LIST to save it
on cassette 1. Close the file
with PRINT 1‘.CLOSE 1 and
then use this program to
translate the tape file to the
printer. The program also
allows a doubled character
title to be used, as well as
allowing double-spaced lines
and splitting the listing into
pages, which prevents program
lines being printed on per¬
forations.
M Clampitt
1<>U rem lists on printer a programme saved in asc -form on tape
110 poke 59468,14
120 print chr $(147)
1 30 i nput" Name of pr og r amme " ; 2 *
140 print: input "Doubl e < d ) or single (s) spacing"; y*
150 if 1 en < y*) 1 then y*»1 e-f t.* < y*, 1 >
160 open 1,1,0
170 open 4,4
130 print#4,chr*(14);z*
190 get#1,at
200 if st=64 or st=128 then close 1: close 4: end
2.1 o a=asc (at)
220 if a>64 and a<91 then a~a+32
230 if a>.192 and a<219 then a=a~128
240 if a-13 or a=141 then a*=chr*(13)+chr*(10):z=z + l* goto 270
250 if a<32 or a 126 then 190
260 a*=chr*(a)
270 if a*=chr*(13)+chr$ <10> and y* "s" then
280 print #4,at;
285 if 2 >58 or< 2 >29 and y* "s") then 2=0:print#4,chr*(12)
290 goto 190
148 PCW
ATOM + SEIKOSHA=GRAPHICS
The Seikosha GP-80A is a
good low-cost printer which
would be a useful extension
to an Acorn Atom micro¬
computer. The Atom has the
necessary output port, edge
connector and inbuilt driving
software to use the printer
without a special interface.
However, it is necessary to
put in one extra link within
the Atom case. The reason
for this is that the Seikosha
printer has a graphics
facility which requires an eight-
bit ASCII input whereas the
Atom only outputs seven
bits. No internal alteration is
required to the printer.
The link should be con¬
nected from bit 3 of the out¬
put port C, from the 8255
PIA (location #B8002) to the
DATAB line on the printer
connector. The DATAB line is
on pin 17 of the connector in
the fifth row of solder pins
away from the edge of the
board; it’s the fifth from the
left as you look over the
board. The 8255 bit 3 output
line is conveniently located on
pin 7 of the cassette DIN
connector (SK2). As you
look over the board you see
two rows of four pins soldered
in SK2. It is the leftmost pin
on the row nearest the edge
of the board. A 74LS244
buffer must be positioned in
the IC50 socket and the
printer edge connector fitted.
ICI, the 6522 VIA, is used.
When the Atom is reset (as
at switch-on) bit 3 of Port C
is set low which is as required
for normal character use of
the printer. When graphics are
needed this bit should be set
high. For full instructions as
to the required printer control
codes for graphics see the GP-
80A manual. Bit 3 is also
used by the colour board, so
when the graphics bit is set the
display colour may change and
vice versa. The Atom routines
for outputting data to the
printer are located at #FEFB.
These recognise the control
codes to turn the printer on
and off and also send the
character code contained in
location #FE.
As an example of the use
of Seikosha in graphics
mode, here’s a program to
dump the Atom’s high reso¬
lution graphics screen onto
the printer. It also surrounds
the display with a border.
Also shown is an example of
its printout. The general
slowish speed of the printer,
together with its strange way
of dealing with graphics data,
results in each plot taking
approximately four minutes.
I have found it best to
assemble the hi-res dump pro¬
gram at #2800. It takes up
#B4 bytes, so it will not over¬
write any Basic program (assu¬
ming it starts at #2900) but
will destroy most floating¬
point values. The best practice
is to save the program on tape
(*SAVE “HIRES” 2800
2865 2800) so that you can
run it easily. So, if one types
(CNTRL U) before doing the
hi res display and then types
(ESC) once when the plot is
done, followed by *RUN
“HIRES” (without text dis¬
play) the entire screen can be
printed out without any extra
‘text’ being added onto the
screen.
The program has to output
the 256*192 display as a set
of 28 lines of seven bits. Any
particular byte is displayed
normally as a horizontal line.
However, the printer requires
the information in vertical
lines seven bits long. Thus, the
program takes in seven ‘hori¬
zontal bytes’ and shifts the
bits out to the printer. As the
horizontal resolution is 256
points, the number of bytes to
be shifted in each line is
256/8 = 32. In addition, the
program includes several mask
words to avoid redundant in¬
formation past the end of the
graphics display and to add on
a border.
Christopher Cant
5DIMLL10
640
BNE
LL5
7 BITS
10IN."ASSEMBLE T0”C
650
R0R
A
AND PRINT.
12IN. : 'LIST"L
655
0RR
#SB
MASK2
it.f
.I=0TO10;LLI=QiN.
660
AND
#8fl
(MflSKl)
16P
.*21
670
JSR
#FF10
(PRINT)
20F.1-CTO1
680
DEY
30P
=Q
690
BNE
LL4
(LOOP0)
100C
700
INC
#39
110
LLO LDfl 82
710
LDY
#89
LC0IJNT
120
JSR
#FEF8 START PRINTER
730
CPY
832
BLOCK DONE 7
130
LDfl
83
740
BNE
LL2
140
JSR
#FEFB ENTER GRAPHICS MODE
300
LDfl
80
150
LDfl S#7F
310
STfl
#8B
MASK2
160
STfl
#8fl MflSKl
820
LDfl
8#7F
•170
LDfl 8#7F
825
AND
#8fl
(MflSKl)
180
STfl
#81 HI RES
830
JSR
#FEFB
PRINT RIGHT
MARGIN
190
LDfl
8#E0 POINTER
840
LDfl
#B002
200
STfl
#80
850
AND
8#F7
EXIT
210
LDfl
80
860
STfl
#B002 GRAPHICS
220
STfl
#3D BLKCNT
370
LDfl
813
230
LDX
81
880
JSR
#FEFB
<CR>
240
STX
#3B MASK2
900
LDfl
8224
(7*32)
300 LLl LDV
80 blk
910
CLC
310
STV
#39 LC0UNT
920
ADC
#80
INCREMENT
320
LDfl
8#1B C
930
STfl
#30
HI RES
330
JSR
#FEFB ESC C
940
LDfl
88
POINTER
340
LDfl
e#i0 c
950
ADC
#81
350
JSR
#FEFB P0S C TAB
960
STfl
#81
360
LDfl 80 C
1000
INC
#8D
BLKCNT
370
JSR
#FEFB HP C
1010
LDfl
#8D
380
LDfl
8#70 C
1020
CMP
827
ALL DONE 7
390
JSR
#FEFB LP C
1030
BMI
LL6
(BACK)
392
LDfl
#6002 SET
1040
BNE
LL7
(END)
394
ORA
83 GRAPHICS
1050
LDfl
S#3F
396
STfl
#B002 BIT
1060
STfl
#8fl
MASK 80TT0M LINE
397
LDfl 8#7F
1070
LDfl
8#20
398
AND
#8fl (MflSKl)
1080
STfl
#SB
MASK2
399
JSR
#FF10 PRINT LEFT MARGIN
1090 LL6
.IMP
LLl
back
400
LL2 LDX 87 lir,e
1100 LL7
LDfl
8#F
end
460
CLC
1110
JSR
#FEFB
CHAR MODE
500 LL3 LDfl
< #80) , Y xfer
1120
LDfl
83
510
STfl
#31. X
1130
JSR
#FEFB
STOP PRINTING
520
TYfl
MOVE FROM
1140
RTS
530
ADC
S#20 GRAPHICS
40003
540
TflY
MEMORY TO
4010IFL P.$6
550
DEX
ZERO PAGE.
4020N.
560
BNE
LL3
4030F. *6 • 8<Q"
-> "8,P J
580
LDY
83
4040E.
600
LL4 LDX
87 looP0
5000PCLEAR4.MOVE0,1.DRAU255.190
DRAWS.
610
LL5 ASL
#31, X lOOP 1
190. r pqur-". e i. i
620
R0R
A
5050DRAU0,1
630
DEX
SHIFT OUT
5100LINKLL0.E.
AUTO ATOM
This is a short Basic program
which will automatically
number the lines of a Basic
program as it is being typed
in. The lines can be incremen¬
ted by any value and can be
started from any value. There
is also a check in the program
in case the size of the program
exceeds the amount of memory
the user has and a check for
the line number being too
large (ie, over 32767).
The program should be
typed into the Atom exactly
as in the listing but keywords
can be shortened as usual (ie,
PRINT becomes P). The pro¬
gram should be loaded into the
lower text part of the VDU
(#8200) and run. It will auto¬
matically place the program
you are typing in the memory
from #2900 onwards. The
program is halted by typing a
(cr) after a line nutnber is
printed; it will then tidy up by
setting top and placing you
where the program is. You will
then set the prompt and the
program may be listed and
changed as usual. To place the
program in a different memory
area you must change line 50
from C = #2900 to C =
#xxxx.
Andrew Smith
10 REM ANDREW B. SMITH
20 REM (C) 1981
30 REM
40 DIM T(60)
50 C=#2900 r (?=5
60 ?G=#0D f C=C*1
70 INPUT 'START AT LINE '
80 INPUT 'STEP' S
90 FOR L=F TO 32767 STEP
100 PRINT L
110 !C=L
120 B=?< C+l)
130
?<C+1)=?C
250
GOSUB 270
140
?OB
260
END
150
C=C+2
270
?C=#20
160
INPUT $T
280
OC+1
170
IF *T=" THEN GOSUB 270 5
END
290
?C=#OD
180
FOR J=0 TO LEN(T)
300
O-C+l
190
?C=T?J
310
?0#FF
200
IF ?COT?J THEN PRINT
"NO MEMORY LEFT! ' ' » END
320
OCH
210
C=C+1
330
?18=#29
220
NEXT J
340
!tOD-C
230
NEXT L.
350
RETURN
240
PRINT 'NO MORE LINE NUMBERS
LEFT ! ' '
PCW 149
Programs for Programers
from
Leicester Computer Centre
___TM
tap
JHE APPLESOFT COMPILER FROM THE APPLE II UTILITY SPECIALISTS
Speed Star is a full-function Applesoft compiler designed to
quickly and easily convert your programs to fast and efficient
6502 machine language. This means a dramatic increase in
the operating speed of your programs. No knowledge of
assembly or machine language is necessary. Speed Star offers
full support for DOS commands. Error Messages, Hi-Res and
Lo-Res Graphics. In addition, Speed Star can make your
programs "control-C" proof, thus only RESET will inter
rupt a program while running. Speed Star is also the only
compiler that allows you to pass variables directly from an
Applesoft program to a compiled program. This means you
can use compiled modules as subroutines from standard
Applesoft programs. Compiled programs are generally larger
than the original, restricting the maximum size of program
that most compilers can handle.
With Speed Star you need only compile the routines you
require to run faster or protect from listing or modification.
Therefore no program is too large to benefit from Speed Star.
P.O.A.
by Ted Birkhead and Roger Wagner
An excellent companion to APPLE-DOC, LIST-MASTER
provides a number of utilities for performing large scale
changes to your program listings. This means tremendous
savings in program development time, and helps assure
logical and usable listings at all stages of your program's
development. It also means you can produce a final version
which operates in a minimum of space and at an optimum
speed.
APPLESPEED takes any Applesoft program and optionally
removes REMarks, shortens variable names, combines lines,
and renumbers by 1's. Each of these steps can considerably
reduce the length of a program, and altogether the reduction
can be as much as 25-50%, Speed of operation typically
increases as well.
The SMART RENUMBER program is the finest in renumber
utilities. SMART RENUMBER gives you the option of
preserving the logical blocks of line numbers that you est¬
ablish for the various routines in a program. This means that
the renumbered version will still retain the logic and work¬
ability of the original. If you've ever tried to work on a
program after you've blindly renumbered the entire thing by
10's, you'll appreciate this feature.!
COMP LIST will compare any two Applesoft or Integer
programs and list out any lines added, deleted, or changed.
This is often handy after you have changed a program and
wish to list out the alterations. P.O.A.
SUPER DISK COPY III
48K & DISK II required, APPLE II or APPLE II PLUSSDC
is a menu-driven programme that allows manipulation of all
types of files under DOS 3.1,3.2 and 3.3. SDC is the only disk
utility available for the APPLE that combines these features:
COPY single files (Integer, Applesoft, Binary, or Text), COPY
DOS, COPY entire disk, UNDELETE deleted files, LOCK or
UNLOCK files, PLOT of disk usage, and optional rearrange¬
ment of files so that they occupy contiguous sectors for
improved access times, SDC supports the wildcard character
"=" in file specifications. SDC makes the conversion to DOS
3.3 less painful (than MUFFIN) and also allows files to be
transferred back to DOS 3.2 since both 13 and 16 sectored
disks can be accessed at the same time. £24.95 + VAT
computer centre limited
Dept. P11,67 Regent Road, Leicester LEI 6YF.
Tel: 0533 556268
CROMWELL
COMPUTING
presents, for the Sharp MZ-80K:
GALACTIC
ATTACK
(6k)
TORNADO
(20k)
DOOM
MOUNTAIN
(34k)
BOWLING
+
LASER
DEFENCE
(6k)
*ALL AT ONLY £5 EACH !!*
^Special introductory offer:
After first program, further programs
are only £4 each!
*FREE with orders over £10:
CANYON BOMBER — An exciting game!!
^PRICES INCLUDE POST & PACKING!
Cheques payable to Cromwell Computing, please.
Ring for details of new releases. Got any SHARP
creations? Ring for details on royalties.
How long can you survive
against dive-bombing aliens?
Fly an RAF Tornado at a
Russian column. A DEADLY
accurate game!
Pass through misty catacombs
in your search for treasure.
Each room graphically
depicted!
Two great games on one
cassette! Both feature superb
sound and graphics.
CROMWELL COMPUTING
CROMWELL HOUSE CROMWELL GARDENS
MARLOW, BUCKS. SL7 1BG (Tel (06284) 6136 (after 5 o'clock)
Sharp PC3201 PAYROLL
Up to 500 employees All Tax and NHI codes Monthly
and weekly paid with full coin analysis, full end of year
printout. Complex Bonus calculations, voluntary deductions
3 overtime rates.
All output, payslips etc on PLAIN PAPER Full support and
updates available. Personalisation undertaken
.£275.00
CP/M REVIVE
Ever erased a file by mistake? Revive enables you to recover
all erased files on a disc! You must have REVIVE if you
use CP/M, fully menu driven
ONLY £20
PC 3201 now with choice of PRINTERS
The Latest
MZ80B
on display.
Phone Chris Robinson on (0473) 50152
nil i < in
15 Lower Brook St Ipswich Suffolk
IPSWICH
150 PCW
TJ's
Workshop
SHARP TIPS
Here’s a selection of tips for
the Sharp MZ-80K.
PEEK (17828) allows con¬
tinuous input from the key¬
board with only one key press.
In other words, if in, say, a
game, you want to move the
cursor across the screen, con¬
tinually PEEKing this location
will return the ASCII value of
the key for as long as it’s
pressed. You must first POKE
10167,1 to allow access to
non-video RAM, then GET a
string from the keyboard (but
don’t wait for it with an IF. . .
THEN statement). Decide
whether the right key has
been pressed with IF PEEK
(17828)=n THEN. .. where n
is the ASCII value of the right
key. Here’s an example:
30 GET R?
40 IF PEEK(17828)=65
THEN 60
50 GOTO 30
60 REM CONT WITH
PROG
This checks to see if ‘A’ has
been pressed and loops back
if it hasn’t. Note that this is
for SP-5025 Basic only, not
disk Basic.
If you accidentally type
NEW, you can still save your
Basic program onto tape with
the USR calls 33 and 36.
Now a bumper bundle of
PEEKS and POKEs. The follow¬
ing disables the BREAK key
during a program: POKE
6636,0: POKE 8767,0: POKE
8768,0: POKE 8769,0. To re¬
enable the BREAK key, use
POKE 6636,205: POKE
8767,218: POKE 8768,133:
POKE 8769,19. This will
prevent a user from BREAKing
a program and copying it, as
the only way to exit then is
to reset the machine. POKEing
10682,1 before you SAVE
makes the program run auto¬
matically on reloading, and
POKE 4360,0: POKE 10680,0
disables SAVE and LIST. If
you POKE 10681,0 before
SAVEing, the reloaded pro¬
gram won’t SAVE or LIST
(unless re-POKEd). POKE
18440,0: POKE 18441,0
will change line number
1 to 0 with the result
that the line can’t be deleted
or altered without renumbering
the program or re-POKEing
the number. Useful for copy¬
right notices, etc.
POKE 59555,0 switches
off the CTR; POKEing a 1
into the same location switches
it on again. POKE 4464,1
changes to lower case, and a 0
reverts to upper. POKE
57347,4 changes the LEt)
from green to red and POKE¬
ing a 5 to the same location
reverts it to green. POKE
4465, x (where x is from 1 to
40) moves the cursor x places
across the screen and POKE
4466, y (with y from 1 to 24)
moves it down x lines.
Finally, if you want to fit a
reset switch to your MZ-80K,
there’s a socket on the main
PCB marked ‘RESET SW’.
The centre pair of holes in the
socket are dummies but you
can wire a small push-to-make
switch across either of the other
two pairs. Pressing the switch
will put the machine back into
the monitor without clearing
the memory.
Phil Clark
TRS-80 INVERSE VIDEO
Several readers have pointed
out that the TRS-80 mod in
last month’s ‘TJ’s’ could over¬
load Z24 by connecting its
output to its own input,
causing it to oscillate. This can
be overcome by using an SPDT
switch, as shown below.
. -V SPDT SWITCH --^
1 71fl _A A. J 1 a t \
I W-*
<
*-*
* | Z24^Q -
1—i__y
TRS-80 LIFESAVER
This program is an invaluable
utility to any disk-based TRS
80 owner who uses either
‘Electric Pencil’ or ‘Scripsit’.
Should an error occur in
saving text to disk or should
there be any software or
hardware failure, the user
could be in a situation of
having valuable text in the
memory of the computer
with no means of recovering
it.
In the majority of cases
RESCUE will transfer this
text to disk; there is how¬
ever a possibility that the
latter part of a relatively
large block of text could
become degraded by Basic’s
string storage and stack. As
an alternative there is a
machine language program
called HELP which is
guaranteed to save all ‘Pencil’
or ‘Scripsit’ text after a re¬
boot, DOS error or disk
crash.
Laurie Shields
TRS30 SCRIPSIT & ELECTRIC PENCIL
RECOVERY OF TEXT FROM MEMORY AFTER A REBOOT
DOS OR HARDWARE FAILURE
5 REM COPYRIGHT <C)
10 ON ERROR GOTO S0
20 CLS:
PRINT:
PRINT "FILE R
30 PRINT:
INPUT "SCRIPSIT OR
40 IF LEFTtC At, 1) =
IF LEFTtC At, 1) =
50 LINEINPUT "FILESPEC
OPEN "0", 1, At
E0 IF N > 32767 THEN N
70 C = PEEKCN):
PRINT CHRtCC);:
PRINT#1,CHRtCC);:
N = N + l:
IF C <> 0 THEN 60 ELSE
FOR N = 1 TO 256:
PRINT#1, "
NEXT:
GOTO 90
80 CMD"E"
90 CLOSE:
END
PROCEEDURE:
1381 LAURIE SHIELDS
E S C U E"
PENCIL"? At
"S" THEN N = 32610 ELSE
"P" THEN N = 27650 ELSE 30
? "; At:
= N - 65536
1. DON’T SWITCH OFF.
2. RE-BOOT DOS WITH WITH ENTER KEY DOWN
3. FORMAT NEW DATA DISC IF NECESSARY.
4. ACTIVATE BASIC.
(BUT WITH ONLY 1 FILE IF IT WAS PENCIL TEXT)
5. DO NOT USE ANY NEWDOS TYPE CMD COMMANDS.
6. RUN "RESCUE"
7. ORDER *HELP/CMD’ BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN.
PCW 151
Weve raised the
standard but not
the price.
The new Microline 82A raises X-Data’s price/performance standard
higher than ever. At no extra cost.
Based on Oki’s superb engineering tradition, the
Microline 82A is the result of a continuous
development program aimed at providing
highest performance at lowest cost
Unbelievably at the same price as its best¬
selling predecessor, the Microline 82, it offers:
□ Speed - 120cps
□ Clarity -9x9 matrix
□ Throughput — enhanced logic seeking
□ Style - true descenders
□ Convenience - rear and bottom paper feed
The Microline 82A will challenge any other
printer available in this price range. With Oki
engineering to give total reliability.
And it has a sister — the wide-carriage
MicroHne 83 A - which offers all the facilities of x . Data Limited Marish Wharf . St Ma - s Road
the Moohne82A with a full 136-column Langley. Slough. Berks SL4 1 HE
ca ™, as ®' t ... , , ... . . Tel: Slough 49117. Telex: 847728.
Plus lower cost. We ve reduced the price by 3
15 per cent compared with the Microline 83
Price/performance is X-Data’s winning ftlFHV Wk
theme. Ring Jane Lindsay at Slough (0753) ■IHiB H
49117 for further details and prices or the name MW MM ■ AVI
of your nearest dealer. Equipment Wholesalers
ranmramnnrwCTnniin
Compiled by Derrick Dairies
Illogicality
There’s a lot of illogicality in the world,
isn’t there? Only a month before writing
this, various self-styled experts were
widely criticising teachers because of
the spate of lamentable city riots. It was
said that discipline in the schools was
nonexistent and that this was a contri¬
butory factor in causing the riots.
My young friend Stewart Sargaison
of Berkhamsted has prompted these
thoughts in a lively correspondence
we’ve been having. In writing about the
effect on employment of new techno¬
logy in general and computers in parti¬
cular, he writes, . I can’t see the
point in the “right to work” . . . People
look forward to retiring, but shy away
from redundancy.. . ’
At first, one is inclined to nod and
think that this is another example of
illogicality that Stewart has pointed
out, but is it? Are people being illogical
in not wanting to be thrown out of
work? I remember my father telling me
off in very strong terms for being an
idle layabout and I remember how
furious he was when I got sacked from
my first job. Being reared in a society
that considered work to be the right
and proper function of man, even today
I find extreme difficulty in sitting down
to do nothing in particular. I always
experience a vague feeling of guilt if I
spend an evening watching television,
for instance — I always think of the
million other things that I should be
doing.
Stewart would probably say that
this is a function of my upbringing and
he would be right in part, but I suspect
that it goes much deeper than that. I
suspect that it is a part of what I per¬
ceive as my worth as a person. I actually
believe that the need to be up and doing
something — exploring and manipulat¬
ing the environment — is something that
is an inbuilt part of mankind, going
back to the origin of the species. As for
retirement, any doctor will tell you that
the person who retires from active life
is dead veiy soon afterwards. For a
long retirement, you have to keep work¬
ing — which sounds daft, but really
means that when you retire you have to
find something else to do — gardening,
bowls, or something.
When I retire — which won’t be for a
long time yet (who are you kidding?
— Ed) —I’m going to spend days on the
golf course and evenings computing,
which brings me round to the thought
that the DHSS could do a lot worse
than give all unemployed youngsters a
small computer instead of unemploy¬
ment benefit one week!
It won’t happen of course — there
are far too many difficulties in the way
— but just think of the benefits! Not
only would we be keeping folks mental¬
ly stimulated, but we would have
enormous spin-offs. Production of
machines would soar — with increased
trade generally — and countless people
would be fitting themselves for a
computing future once the recession
lifts. Besides, I simply cannot imagine
any computer nut lifting his nose from
the keyboard long enough to be aware
that there was a riot going on, let alone
wanting to go and join in! What do
you think?
I would be very interested to hear
from any unemployed reader who is
managing to keep sane because of an
interest in computing, or who has
found employment through his own
efforts in that field. We hear so much of
gloom and doom that it would be nice
to publicise the ‘get-up-and-go’ that I
know young folks are capable of.
Too much
In another piece of correspondence, a
writer wanted to know why I was in
favour of Space Wars at first and have
now turned against it. I wouldn’t say
that I’ve turned against it exactly, but
it does remind me of a story of a young
bride who tearfully said to her husband
of one week, ‘I can’t understand you!
You liked baked beans on Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
and Saturday, and now suddenly on
Sunday, you don’t like them any more!’
So please — no more Star Wars or
similar shooting games, OK?
Daniel Haywood of Ormskirk very
kindly wrote to say that he agreed with
my definition of a good computer game
(July 1981 PCW) and added that he
thought that different skill levels are ‘a
good thing’. He’s right, of course. He
says, ‘I think it’s great knowing you
have mastered one skill level and are
good enough to go up to the next.’ I
couldn’t put it better myself.
He also asks if Acorn will be likely
to provide a new ROM for the Atom.
There are a lot of people interested in
this question, Daniel, and it all depends
on how the Acorn people add up their
sums. If they think that there’s money
to be made out of it, they will. Person¬
ally, I think that they’d be silly not to,
but they might consider that they can
get more folk to buy the Proton by
witholding the ROM from us Atom
users. They’d be wrong because I
suspect that other folks will be ready to
provide ‘BBC-compatible’ ROMs for all
sorts of machines, including the Atom.
The trick for Acorn will be to offer
their ROM at the right time to maxi¬
mise their profits and ‘wrong-foot’
the ‘cowboy’ suppliers.
Programs received
Obstacle Course & Drawing Board
(ZX80) by Stephen Bootes (10) of Hart¬
well. Wumpus, Breakout & Super-
Meteor (TRS-80) by Andrew Bennett
of Southam, Warwick. Snake Winder,
Zap!, Spacey Shoot, Moonlander,
Missile Shoot” and Rebound by Daniel
Haywood (14) of Ormskirk Lancs.
Quadratic Equation Roots (ICL 1900)
by Jon Harvey (16) of Prestwich.
Mugtraps
The supply of Mugtraps appears to be
drying up, so we’ll call a halt to that
particular correspondence, if you don’t
mind. A reader in Bolton wanted to
‘punish’ a wrong-user by putting the
machine in an infinite loop, which was
not quite what I had in mind when I
started this thing off.
Stewart Sargaison (again!) had a
similar idea when he sent this one, and
I’ll let him have the last word:-
10 INPUT “YOUR NAME”, N$
20 IF NS = “DERRICK DAINES”
THEN CRASH
(Sniff!)
ZX 80 Obstacle Course
by Stephen Bootes
The object of this program is to reach
the top left-hand corner of the board by
travelling on the black squares only. To
start, type ‘5’ and then move using the
arrow keys. When there isn’t a path for
you to follow, or you want to give up,
type ‘1’. At the end of the game the
computer tells you how many moves
you have made.
10 LET A=1
20 LET Z=296
30 FOR Q=1 TO 386
40 LET C=RND(3)
50 IF C=1 THEN PRINT CHR$(9);
53 IF C=2 THEN PRINT CHR$(128);
55 IF C=3 THEN PRINT CHR$(128);
57 NEXT Q
60 GO SUB 110
70 LET A=PEEK(16396)+PEEK(16397)*256
80 POKE A+Z, 148
90 GO TO 60
100 STOP
110 INPUT K
1 1 5 LET T=1
120 IF Z=33 THEN GO TO 200
123 IF K=1 THEN GO TO 300
125 POKE A+7,9
130 IF K=8 THEN LET Z=Z+1
140 IF K = 5 THEN LET Z =Z-1
150 IF K=6 THEN LET Z=Z+33
160 IF K=7 THEN LET Z=Z-33
170 LET T=T+1
180 RETURN
190 STOP
200 CLS
210 PRINT "CONGRATULATIONS - "
220 PRINT "YOU COMPLETED THE OBSTACLE"
230 PRINT "COURSE IN ";T;" GOES"
240 STOP
300 CLS
310 PRINT "GOOD TRY BUT YOU DID NOT"
320 PRINT "COMPLETE THE OBSTACLE COURSE.
330 PRINT "YOU MADE ";T;" MOVES"
340 STOP
PCW 153
yjs** *°Ve' J,|0 * W TVJS®
Our advantages:
• S-100
• 12 slots
• Z80A Microprocessor
• Real time clock
• Interrupt driven hardware
• Double density, single or double
sided 5" and 8" floppy disc drives
• 5" and 8" Winchester drives
(option)
• Tape back-up (option)
• Cartridge disc drives (Equinox 200)
• 64KB Dynamic RAM with parity
• Static RAM (option)
• Up to 384KB RAM (option)
• Two serial ports
• Additional serial and parallel
ports (option)
• CAP Microcobol
• CP/M, CP/NET, MP/M
• TURBOCHARGER II for greater
disc capacity and performance
for your CP/M software
• BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN,
PASCAL, C, LISP, APL, FORTH
• Word Processing
• Information Management
• Powerful Utilities-Z80 Assembler,
Editor, Debugger and linker
• Analog/Digital and Digital/
Analog interfaces
• Prestel/Viewdata
• Mainframe/Micro
Communication
• Networking
• CCTA Approved Systems
EQUINOX
COMPUTER SYSTEMS LIMITED
Specialists in Multi-user Microsystems
Built to high quality standards by IMS International
And consider the price-from £1750
Kleeman House, 16 Anning Street, New Inn Yard.
London EC2A 3HB. Tel: 01-739 2387 & 01-729 4460
Telex: 27341
PCW 154
This is our unique quick-reference guide, reprinted every month to help our readers pick their way
through the most important pieces of (necessary) jargon found in PCW. While it's in no way totally
comprehensive, we trust you 'll find it a useful introduction. Happy microcomputing!
Welcome to the confusing world of the
microcomputer. First of all, don’t be fooled;
there’s nothing complicated about this
business, it’s just that we’re surrounded by an
immense amount of necessary jargon. Imagine
if we had to continually say ‘numbering system
with a radix of 16 in which the letters A to F
represent the values ten to 15’ when instead we
can simply say ‘hex’. No doubt soon many of
the words and phrases we are about to explain
will eventually fall into common English usage.
Until that time, PCW will be publishing this
guide — every month.
We’ll start by considering a microcomputer’s
functions and then examine the physical
components necessary to implement these
functions.
The microcomputer is capable of receiving
information, processing it, storing the results
or sending them somewhere else. All this
information is called data and it comprises
numbers, letters and special symbols which can
be read by humans. Although the data is
accepted and output by the computer in
‘human’ form, inside it’s a different story — it
must be held in the form of an electronic code.
This code is called binary — a system of
numbering which uses only Os and Is. Thus in
most micros each character, number or symbol
is represented by eight binary digits or bits as
thev are called, ranging from 00000000 to
11111111 .
To simplify communication between
computers, several standard coding systems
exist, the most common being ASCII
(American Standard Code for Information
Interchange). As an example of this standard,
the number five is represented as 00110101 —
complicated for humans, but easy for the
computer! This collection of eight bits is called
a byte and computer freaks who spend a lot of
time messing around with bits and bytes use a
half-way human representation called hex. The
hex equivalent of a byte is obtained by giving
each half a single character code (0—9, A—F):
0 = 0000, 1 =0001,2 = 0010, 3 = 0011,4 = 0100,
5 = 0101 .... E = 1110 and F= 1111. Our
example of 5 is therefore 35 in hex. This makes
it easier for humans to handle complicated
collections of Os and Is. The machine detects
these Os and Is by recognising different
voltage levels.
The computer processes data by reshuffling,
performing arithmetic on, or by comparing it
with other data. It’s the latter function that
gives a computer its apparent ‘intelligence’ —
the ability to make decisions and to act upon
them. It has to be given a set of rules in order to
do this and, once again, these rules are stored
in memory as bytes. The rules are called
programs and while they can be input in binary
or hex (machine code programming), the usual
method is to have a special program which
translates English or near-English into machine
code. This speeds programming considerably;
the nearer the programming languge is to
Ejnglish, the faster the programming time. On
the other hand, program execution speed tends
to be slower.
The most common microcomputer language
is Basic. Program instructions are typed in at
the keyboard, to be coded and stored in the
computer’s memory. To run such a program
the computer uses an interpreter which picks
up each English-type instruction, translates it
into machine code and then feeds it into the
processor for execution. It has to do this each
time the same instruction has to be executed.
Two strange words you will hear in
connection with Basic are PEEK and POKE.
They give the programmer access to the
memory of the machine. It’s possible to read
(PEEK) the contents of a byte in the computer
and to modify a byte (POKE).
Moving on to hardware, this means the
physical components of a computer system as
opposed to software — the programs needed to
make the system work.
At the heart of a microcomputer system is
the central processing unit (CPU), a single
microprocessor chip with supporting devices
such as buffers, which ‘amplify’ the CPU’s
signals for use by other components in the
system. The packaged chips are either soldered
directly to a printed circuit board (PCB) or are
mounted in sockets.
In some microcomputers, the entire system is
mounted on a single, large, PCB; in others a
bus system is used, comprising a long PCB
holding a number of interconnected sockets.
Plugged into these are several smaller PCBs,
each with a specific function — for instance,
one card would hold the CPU and its support
chips. The most widely-used bus system is
called the S100.
The CPU needs memory in which to keep
programs and data. Microcomputers generally
have two types of memory, RAM (Random
Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only
Memory). The CPU can read information
stored in RAM — and also put information
into RAM. Two types of RAM exist — static
and dynamic; all you really need know is that
dynamic RAM uses less power and is less
expensive than static, but it requires additional,
complex, circuitry to make it work. Both types
of RAM lose their contents when power is
switched off, whereas ROM retains its contents
permanently. Not surprisingly, manufacturers
often store interpreters and the like in ROM.
The CPU can only read the ROM’s contents
and cannot alter them in any way. You can buy
special ROMs called PROMs (Programmable
ROMs) and EPROMs (Eraseable PROMs)
which can be programmed using a special
device; EPROMs can be erased using ultra¬
violet light.
Because RAM loses its contents when power
is switched off, cassettes and flopp> disks are
used to save programs and data for later use.
Audio-type tape recorders are often used by
converting data to a series of audio tones and
recording them; later the computer can listen to
these same tones and re-convert them into
data. Various methods are used for this, so a
cassette recorded by one make of computer
won’t necessarily work on another make. It
takes a long time to record and play back
information and it’s difficult to locate one
specific item among a whole mass of
information on a cassette; therefore, to
overcome these problems, floppy disks are
used on more sophisticated systems.
A floppy disk is made of thin plastic, coated
with a magnetic recording surface rather like
that used on tape. The disk, in its protective
envelope, is placed in a disk drive which rotates
it and moves a read/write head across the
disk’s surface. The disk is divided into
concentric rings called tracks, each of which is
in turn subdivided into sectors. Using a
program called a disk operating system, the
computer keeps track of exactly where
information is on the disk and it can get to any
item of data by moving the head to the
appropriate track and then waiting for the right
sector to come round. Two methods are used to
tell the computer where on a track each sector
starts: soft sectoring where special signals are
recorded on the surface and hard sectoring
where holes are punched through the disk
around the central hole, one per sector.
Half-way between cassettes and disks is the
stringy floppy — a miniature continuous loop
tape cartridge, faster than a cassette but
cheaper than a disk system. Hard disk systems
are also available for micro-computers; they
store more information than floppy disks, are
more reliable and information can be
transferred to and from them much more
quickly.
You, the user, must be able to communicate
with the computer and the generally accepted
minimum for this is the visual display unit
(VT)U), which looks like a TV screen with a
typewriter-style keyboard; sometimes these are
built into the system, sometimes they’re
separate. If you want a written record (hard
copy) of the computer’s output, you’ll need a
printer.
The computer can send out and receive
information in two forms — parallel and serial.
Parallel input/output (I/O) requires a series of
wires to connect the computer to another
device, such as a printer, and it sends out data a
byte at a time, with a separate wire carrying
each bit. Serial I/O involves sending data one
bit at a time along a single piece of wire, with
extra bits added to tell the receiving device
when a byte is about to start and when it has
finished. The speed that data is transmitted is
referred to as the baud rate and, very roughly,
the baud rate divided by ten equals the number
of bytes being sent per second.
To ensure that both receiver and transmitter
link up without any electrical horrors,
standards exist for serial interfaces; the most
common is RS232 (or V24) while, for parallel
interfaces to printers, the Centronics standard
is popular.
Finally, a modem connects a computer, via a
serial interface, to the telephone sytem
allowing two computers with modems to
exchange information. A modem must be
wired into the telephone system and you need
British Telecom’s permission; instead you
could use an acoustic coupler, which has two
obscene-looking rubber cups into which the
handset fits, and which has no electrical
connection with the phone system — British
Telecom isn’t so uppity about the use of these.
PCW 155
THE
PCW
SHOW
1981
OUT OF
THE
GHETTO!
NOT the Royal Wedding Presents. . .
t' Personal n
computer
* World J
Tim Jones receives prize from Judith Hann, aided by 3rd arm.
156 PCW
Being acutely aware of PCW’s dramatic
increase in circulation since 1980 we, in
our wisdom, allowed for twice as many
visitors as last year. Imagine our em¬
barrassment when the first day dawned
to a queue approximately V^-mile long,
stretching around the corner and out of
sight. Only by gradually jettisoning the
more time-consuming of the registration
procedures and opening a second en¬
trance could we get the eager throng in
fast enough to prevent mayhem on the
streets of Hammersmith. Such mass
activity soon attracted The Times ,
Guardian and ITN News to the scene;
as David Tebbutt remarked to me on
the first day, ‘We’ve reached critical
mass!’; in other words, microcomputing
in the UK has emerged from the ghetto
and into the limelight.
Inside the hotel the two floors were
packed almost beyond endurance; only
the enthusiasm and goodwill of visitors
and exhibitors kept it manageable. The
hotel’s air conditioning struggled hard
to keep the temperature only sub¬
tropical. Several American visitors
remarked that there was more action
than at the West Coast Faire, which we
grudgingly accepted as a compliment.
It’s not possible to identify a single
biggest attraction, as there were at least
eight among the 72 exhibitors.
Acorn had the prototype BBC Micro
on display with some impressive
graphics. The waiting time to see it, un¬
less you had tungsten elbows like Guy
Kewney, was on a par with that for the
Royal Wedding presents.
Atari’s large stand offered the public
its first view of the neat 400 and 800
and the disk drives. The Thorn-EMI
games software attracted a pullulating
swarm of schoolboys to the stand,
despite the fact that it was ostensibly on
the upstairs ‘business’ floor. It’s easy to
see why: their darts game has quite the
best colour graphics I’ve seen on a
micro.
The Last One had over 6000 visitors
to their stand and dispensed over
10,000 order forms (see ‘Chip Chat’ for
amusing anecdote). They seemed happy.
NEC officially launched its PC8000
and several mouthwatering peripherals
at the Show. The most intriguing of
these was a neat digital plotter which
scuttles across at intervals to pick up a
different coloured pen from a stack of
about ten. At their reception, high-up
Japanese execs made plain that they’re
after the business market; no doubt
wise, but, if they made it UK TV-
compatible, the PC8000 could eat into
the hobby market as well.
Sinclair had their long-awaited ZX81
printer on show and took orders in¬
decently fast. They also sold all the
’81s they had brought; rather charming
to see people walking away from a
computer show with one under their
arm (smacks of ‘sell ’em cheap and
pile ’em high).
Least seen but most requested item
was the Osborne 1. If I had a pound for
every enquiry, etc. . . The machine
(there only being one in the country —
the one tested in this issue) made a brief
appearance on Micro trend’s stand on
Thursday afternoon.
Personal Computers’ stand boasted
the Alpha Centauri synthesiser lashed
up k to an Apple II. Proper keyboard, and
an., impressive range of sounds and
effects was broadcast far and very wide
through a NAD/'A&R hi-fi rig. Never did
pluck up courage to play some Booker
T for them instead of those curious
teatime muzak tunes. . .
An event witnessed by ITN and BBC
but not the public at large was the
award of a DAI computer by Judith
Hann of ‘Tomorrow’s World’ to Tim
Jones, winner of the IYDP competition.
Tim’s robot arm was by far the most
lifelike seen so far; as a student of
industrial design and engineering he pro¬
duced a strikingly professional effort
using vacuum-formed plastic shells and
ingenious pneumatic powered ‘muscles’,
all controlled by an Acorn card via
solenoids and air valves. In addition to
its potential as an aid for the disabled,
Tim is developing the arm (in conjunc¬
tion with a fashion firm) for animated
window dummies, in order to be self¬
financing. Perhaps there is still some
hope for Britain in microtechnology. . .
It was rather surprising but hearten¬
ing to see mini-makers Digico with their
own stand, bearing their new Prince
micro. With a spec and price quite
similar to SuperBrain, this machine
could make a dent in the business
market if marketed aggressively, par¬
ticularly if Digico can extend mini
standards of after-sales support into the
long-suffering micro market.
The activity on the club/hobby floor
is covered below by Rupert Steele.
Suffice to say that there was a lot of it.
To all the exhibitors, thanks for
exhibiting.
To the 16,500 visitors who came,
thanks for coming. To Montbuild, the
organisers, thanks for organising. To the
rest of the computer press, thanks from
the Catering Manager (Alcoholic
Beverages Div). Next year 50,000 at
Olympia?
Dick Pountain
Conglomeration
of clubs
Certainly an overwhelming majority of
visitors to the home and hobbyist area
of the show will have noticed or
stopped at the ACC stand. For the
benefit of those who didn’t, the ACC
itself distributed the space among
various local clubs and user groups.
Thanks must go to Dr David Annal of
the ACC for his excellent work in ad¬
ministrating the whole operation.
A database was run on the stand
which had details of all the user groups
and clubs known to the ACC. Visitors
were able to ask for details of their
nearest club and a printout of the
information was given to them. How¬
ever, the ACC’s records do seem to
have some gaps notably in Cam¬
bridgeshire and Shropshire.
Advice to bewildered newcomers
was easily forthcoming from the en¬
quiry desk. One good suggestion was
that people join a club before buying
a computer, thereby learning a little
more about which machine would suit
them best.
If you have a club and have not been
in touch with the ACC before, drop
them a line care of Vernon Gifford
(ACC), 111 Selhurst Road, London
SE25 6LH. Information can also be up¬
dated in this way. ACC details are
available from Rupert Steele, St John’s
College, Oxford.
Finally, for all of you who weren’t
there, here’s a run-down of what the
computer clubs had to offer. The
TRS-80 Level 1 User Group was demon¬
strating a Tiny Pascal which attracted
much interest. According to the Atom
User Group, existing Atom users will be
able to get a PROM to mimic the BBC
machine. The National ZX80/81 User
Group found that, instead of being
deluged with complaints about failed
hardware or late delivery, folks were
exchanging software ideas. The Associa¬
tion of London Computer Clubs attrac¬
ted crowds with a robot arm and a
micromouse (Questor) just back from
Paris. They are organising a national
Robotics and Micromouse conference
at Imperial College on Saturday 28
November. Vernon Gifford (address as
before) will have details, and the regis¬
tration fee is <£9.50.
Rupert Steele
Mummy , what ’s a syntax error?
L- -— I - mtm. i..-.
PCW/Microdigital Competition winner J.C. Haines (left) receives prize from
Bruce Everiss of Microdigital. Editor Rodwell presses flesh.
PCW 157
tootsy'
r
Computers
192 HONEYPOT LANE, QUEENSBURY, STANMORE, MIDDX HA7 1 EE. 01-204 7525
THE "PET" SPECIALISTS
COMPETITIVE CBM PET PRICES 1 !
4032
8032
4040
8050
4022
40 Col. PET
80 Col. PET
347K Disk
IM Byte Disk
Printer
8024* Printer
585.00*
755.00*
585.00*
755.00*
357.00*
975.00*
TRY US!
YOU WILL NOT BE
DISAPPOINTED
CASH & CARRY
PRICE BREAKTHROUGH !!! PRICES ONLY
EXT CASSETTE DECKS (INC COUNTER & SOUNDBOXLrfeb £55*
Printers Disk Drives Sundries
CBM 4022 CBM 8050 Interlaces Cl2 Cassettes
Centronic 779 CBM 4040 Disks: Library Cases
Centronic 737 CBM 3040 Paper (roll & tractor feed)
Spinwriter 5510 COMPU/K BOOK Labels Dust covers
CBM 8026 & 8027
SOFTWARE
As well as a full range of Petsoft and Commodore Software, we
have some highly reliable "Home-Brewed'' programs available.
STOCK CONTROL & INVOICING £60
(Handles up to 500 items — 32K) (180 on 16K). Stock depleted on
invoicing, search etc. Cassette, disk (&■ print option).
3000 item: 4040/8050 £125
CASH BOOK £90
Enter daily/weekly amounts - printout and totals, Weekly/monthly
analysis, totals and balances.
STOCK TAKING Cuts out all the hard work £2 40
OUTSIDE SERVICES (For Mini Cabs Etc) £220
TOOL KITS (BASIC 2 & 4), SUPERCHIPS.
AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER CHIPS
UPGRADE YOUR PET EVEN MORE!!
THE "MUPETs" ARE HERE!
3 TO 8 PETs ONLY NEED 1 DISK DRIVE . .
Daily demonstrations: Ring for details.
Sae for free software booklet
Visicalc "OZZ" Commodore Business Programs
Compsoft DMSV Bristol Trader, Item & Monitor
Anagram Ledgers Superpay Word Processing.
. SPECIALTsED SOFTWARE APPL 1CA TIONS
UNDERTAKEN. RING FOR DETAILS
Y COMPLETE SYSTEMS
fc. — ^ FROM £1700!!
THE SYSTEMS WE SUPPLY E t INSTALL ARE COMPLETE:
ESTIMATES GIVEN FREE WITH NO HIDDEN EXTRAS:
FULL BACK UP: GUARANTEED EXPERTISE
» PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE VAT
COME AND
SEE THE NEW
FULLY WORKING AND OPERATIONAL
ASK US ABOUT ALL THE ADD-ON-GOODIES
THAT GO WITH THE VIC.!
at £189
(inc VAT)
PERSONAL SHOPPERS WELCOME
Phone Et Mail Orders accepted.
ALL GOODS SENT SAME DA Y WHEREVER POSSIBLE
LARGES.A.E. FOR LISTS ETC.
FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF THE BEST
SELLING BOOKS FOR THE SINCLAIR COMES:
Not Only
But Also
PROGRAMS FOR THE
SINCLAIR ZX81...IK
Not
Only
..does this book contain over
30 fully debugged and exciting programs,
every one of which will fit into the basic IK
memory of your Sinclair ZX81 — including
programs such as STAR WARS, LUNAR
LANDER, BLACKJACK, MINI ADVEN¬
TURE, DRAUGHTS, BREAKOUT.
But Also
* Detailed explanation of how
these programs were written.
* Lots of hints on how
you can write exciting
programs for your
ZX81.
* Numerous space
saving techniques —
obviously invaluable to
theZX81 owner.
* PEEKS and POKES
and all the other
'complicated' func¬
tions are clearly
explained.
* MUCH, MUCH
MORE...
Understanding
Your ZX81 ROM
Plus special section: How to use machine
code routines in your BASIC programs,
by DR. I. LOGAN.
Dr Logan was the first person to disass¬
emble the Sinclair ZX80 Monitor and was
the co-author of the ZX80 COMPANION.
In UNDERSTANDING YOUR ZX81 ROM
Dr. Logan illustrates all the facilities of the
ZX81 Monitor, how it works and how you
can use it in your own programs.
A special section shows you how you can
squeeze more power into your ZX81,
by using machine language and machine
language subroutines.
An essential book for those who really want
to understand the full working of the
SINCLAIR ZX81.
Published by MELBOURNE HOUSE PUBLISHERS LTD.
Send Stamped, self-addressed envelope for FREE catalogue.
THE ESSENTIAL SOFTWARE COMPANY (Visconti Ltd)
47 Brunswick Centre, London W1CN 1AF (01-837 3154)
□ Please rush me NOT ONLY 30 PROGRAMS FOR THE
SINCLAIR ZX81 1 K: at £6.95 each
□ Please also rush UNDERSTANDING YOUR ZX81 ROM
by Dr. I. Logan at £8.95
I enclose a cheque/postal order for £.+ 50p post and pack.
Name.
Address.
158 PCW
PACKAGES
PCW's ‘ Packages' section is produced bi-monthly , alternating with our ‘In Store ’
hardware guide . We have confined coverage to business packages which are
available and supported at national level and which have been in use for at least
six months in a minimum of five sites. Producers of packages which fall within
these constraints should send details or updates to: Dick Olney, PCW , 14
Rathbone Place, London W1P IDE.
The layout has been designed to allow you to discover which packages are available for the
application you have in mind and to show you which packages are available for your
computer if you already have a machine. In either case the code enables you to look up the
supplier’s name and telephone number in the table below.
All details published are the latest made available — some may have
changed since this issue went to press.
Code Companv Telephone
A1 ACT/Petsoft 021-5012284
A2 Arden Data Processing 0533 22255
B1 B + BComputer Ltd. 0204 26644
B2 Beam Business Centre 061-831-7292
B3 Benchmark Computer Systems 072661000
B4 Bristol Software Factory 027223430
B5 Bvte Soft Systems Ltd 0533 531441
Cl CAP-CPP Products Ltd. 01-4040911
C2 Commodore 01-388 5702
C3 Compsoft 0483 39665
C4 Comput-a-crop 0507-604271
C5 Computastore Ltd. 061-832-4761
C6 Computech 01-7940202
C7 Compass Standish 426252
1)1 Data Bank 0509217671
El Engineering Sciences 01-437-4894
G1 Graffcom Systems Ltd. 01-727 5561
G2 Grama (Winter) Ltd. 01-6368210
G3 Great Northern 0532 589980
G4 Alan Greenhalgh Ltd 01-520-0218
HI A. J. Harding 0424220391
H2 Hartford Software 060676265
H3 H.B. Computers 053683922
H4 Hipposoft 0337 76023127
11 lntereurope Software Design 0734 786644
12 Intex Datalog Ltd 0642 781193
J1 T.V. Johnson 0276 20446
K2 Keen Computers 0602412777
LI Lifeboat Associates 01-8369028
L2 Liveport(Exidy Sorcerer Firmware) 0736798157
L3 Ludhouse (Computing) Ltd. 01-6794321
Ml Microcomputer Applications Ltd. 0734470425
M2 Microteck. Orpington26803
M3 MicrosysLtd 051426 7271
PI PadmedeComputer Services 02514 21892
P2 Personal Computers Ltd. 01-6268121
R1 Rockliff 051-5215830
51 SMG Microcomputers 0474 55813
52 TheSoftwarehouse 01-637 2108
53 Stage One Software 0202 23570
54 Systematics International 044061121
55 Sumlock Bondain 01-2500505
56 Stemmos 016026242
57 Software Aids Int 01-2049396
T1 Tridata Micros Ltd. 0216226085
VI Vlasak Electronics Ltd. 0494-448633
XI Xetal 061682 7555
(Applications
Machine Application
Price
Code
Appointments
Commodore/
planner
Computhink
£100
S3
Challenger
£25
Cl
Assembler dev
PET/CBM
£50
L2
Bank accounts
Apple 11
Commodore/
£10
Dl
Computhink
£100
S3
ITT 2020
£10
D1
PET
£10
D1
Bill of materials
CP/M
£500
B5
Bonds/pension
Commodore/
quotations
Computhink
£100
S3
Budgeting package
MCZ Zilog
£500 +
11
Apple/Apple II
£125
P2
Bureau de change
CBM
£8
H3
Cash flow
Apple II
£125
P2
Apple 11
£80
VI
CP/M
£250
L3
CP/M
£95
B5
PET
£8
A1
Cash register
Apple II
£10
Dl
ITT 2020
£10
D1
PET
£10
Dl
C Basic
Tandy Model II
£70
Ml
Company secretary
CP/M
£450
C4
Conference organiser
MCZ Zilog
£500 +
11
Contract costing
Apple II
£500
PI
CP/M
£2000
L3
CP/M & utilities
Tandy Model 11
£150
Ml
Credit control
Apple 11
£98
P2
PET
£650
B4
Customer file
Famos
£1000
M2
Database manage¬
ACT800
£225
H4
ment/information
Apple
£150
A2
retrieval
Apple
£150
K2
Apple
£60-140
S2
Apple
£150
S5
Apple 11
£75
P2
Aple II/ITT 2020
Commodore/
£100
S4
Computhink
£45-250
S3
CP/M
£150-750
C4
. CP/M
£100
G3
* Cromemco
£250
B3
Famos
North Star
£1500
M2
Horizon
£250
B3
PET
£170
C3
PET
£325
Al
PET
£225
H4
PET/CBM
£75
Bl
PET/CBM
£50/150
C2
PET/CBM
£150
J1
PET/CBM
£150
G2
Superbrain
£300
S6
Tandy Model 1
£25-80
Ml
TRS-80
£60
S2
TRS-80
£150
J1
TRS-80
£32.50
HI
8000 Series
POR
C2
Disk operating System
PET/CBM
£150
Bl
Estate agent
Apple
£850
A2
Apple
£850
S5
Apple
£850
K2
Apple II
£175
P2
Apple 11/ ITT 2020
CBM
Commodore/
Computhink
CP/M
North Star
Horizon
PCC 2000
Simpelec Triton 3
PET
Superbrain
£750
£30
£250
£750
£750
£350
£25
£600
S4
H3
S3
C4
B5
B3
Al
S6
Equipment lease/rent/
HP
CP/M
£400
G1
Financial modelling
CP/M
£400
G1
Apple/Apple 11
£450
P2
CP/M
£95
B5
Financial planning
Apple 11/ITT2020
£250
S4
General ledger/NL
Apple
£300
A2
Apple
£300
S5
Apple
£300
K2
Apple II
£455
P2
Apple II
£225
VI
Apple II
£295
C6
CBM
Commodore/
£200
H3
Computhink
POR
S3
CP/M
£500
L3
CP/M
£375
LI
CP/M
£500
C4
CP/M
£400
G1
CP/M
£400
M3
CP/M
£200
B5
CP/M
£275
S6
CP/M
£275
S7
Cromemco
£250
B3
ITT 2020
£295
C6
ITT 2020/Apple 11
North Star
£250P
S4
Horizon
North Star
£250
B3
Horizon
PCC 2000
£400
M3
Simpelec Triton 3
£350
B2
PET/CBM
£200
C2
Sharp PC3201
£450
P2
Superbrain
£400
M3
Superbrain
£400
S6
Tandy Model I
£90
Ml
Tandv Model II
£90
Ml
TRS-80
£225
HI
TRS-80 1
£225/325
Tl
TRS-80 II
£425
T1
Vector
£400
C5
8080/Z80
£357
LI
8080/Z80
£275
G3
Hire purchase
Cromemco
£400 +
B3
Incomplete records
Apple
£250
S2
Apple
POR
K2
Apple II
£425
P2
Apple II
Commodore/
£450
PI
Computhink
£750
S3
CP/M
£750
M3
CP/M
North Star
£250
B5
Horizon
£750
M3
Superbrain
£750
M3
Tandv Model 1
£40
Ml
TRS-80
£40
HI
Industry Factory
Apple
£360
XI
loading
CP/M
£360
XI
PET
£300
XI
Industry work study
Apple
£990
XI
CP/M
£990
XI
PET
£750
XI
MP/M)
£300
Bl
Apple II
£450
PI
Apple II
£300
P2
Apple II
£855
VI
Commodore/
Computhink
POR
S3
CP/M
£950
LI
CP/M
£1500
C4
CP/M
£1100
G1
CP/M
£990
M3
CP/M
£690
B5
CP/M
£850
S7
Cromemco
£950
B3
Famos
£2000
M2
ITT 2020
£450
PI
MZ-80K
£150
P2
North Star
Horizon
£950
B3
PET/CBM
£300
Bl
North Star
Horizon
£990
M3
PET/CBM
(£50)
C2
PET/CBM
£650
J1
PET/CBM
£650
G2
Superbrain
£990
M3
Superbrain
£1200
S6
Tandy Model 1
£350
Ml
Tandy Model 11
£350
Ml
TRS-80
£75
J1
Vector
£1000
C5
8000 Series
POR
C2
8080/Z80
£950
LI
8080/Z80
£995
G3
Investment portfolio TRS-80
£20
S2
Invoicing
Apple
Apple II
Apple II
Apple II
Challenger
Commodore/
Computhink
CP/M
CP/M
CP/M
CP/M
Cromemco
North Star
Horizon
North Star
Horizon
PET
PET/CBM
PET/CBM
Superbrain
Superbrain
Tandy Model 1
Tandy Model II
TRS-80
TRS-80I
TRS-80II
8080/Z80
ITT 2020
£295 S2
£300 PI
£300 P2
£140 VI
£25 C7
POR S3
£325 LI
£150-350 C4
£250
£150
£100
£100
£250
£350
£25-50
POR
£250
£150
£90
£90
£25
£75
£125
£325
£300
Job costing
Apple II
Apple
CP/M
CP/M
CP/M
ITT 2020
North Star
Horizon
PET
Superbrain
Tandy Model I
Tandy Model II
£300
£990
£700
£350
£990
£300
£350
£750
£350
POR
POR
Job order control
8080/Z80
£275
Leasing
Legal precedents
CP/M
Letter writer
Apple II
CP/M
North Star
Horizon
Superbrain
£80
£150
£150
£150
Lisp
PET/CBM
Lotteries
Mailing List
PET
Altos (CP/M,
MP/M)
Apple
Apple
Apple
Apple
Apple II
Apple II
Apple I I/ITT
2020
CBM
Commodore/
Computhink
CP/M
CP/M
ITT 2020
PET
PET
PET
PET/CBM
PET/8032
Tandy Model I
Tandv Model II
TRS-80
TRS-80
M3
S7
B3
B3
M3
A1
B1
J1
M3
S6
Ml
Ml
HI
T!
T1
LI
PI
PI
XI
C4
M3
XI
PI
M3
XI
M3
Ml
Ml
G3
B3
C4
VI
M3
M3
M3
£45
£75
£300
£50-150
£300
£300
£40
£50
£100
£35
£100
£50-150
£250
£50
£45
£50
£15
£75
£75/150
£40
£75
£50-150
B1
A2
52
S5
K2
P2
D1
S4
H3
53
C4
G1
D1
H2
D1
A1
Bl
51
Ml
Ml
52
£25/38/55 HI
Apple
Apple II
Challenger
Commodore/
Computhink
CP/M
£14
£40
£25
S2
P2
C7
£200-360 C4
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PCW 160
PACKAGES
Application
Machine
Price
Code
CP/M
£90
M3
CP/M
£75
S7
MCZ Zilog
North Star
£250
11
Horizon
PCC 2000
£90
M3
Simpelec Triton 3
£450
B2
Superbrain
£90
M3
Tandy Model 1
£75 +
G4
Tandy Model II
£75
Ml
Tandy Model II
£75 +
G4
Membership accting
Apple/Apple II
£75
P2
PET
£85
H2
Motor Dealer
Famos
£5000
M2
Order entry/invoicing
CP/M
£350
G1
Order processing
CP/M
£550
LI
8080/Z80
£550
LI
Office admin
Apple 11 /ITT 2020
£100
S4
Packages
El
Pad to plotter systems
Apple 11
£250
P2
Pascal
Apple/ Apple II
£299
P2
PET/CBM
£120
C2
Pavroll
Apple
POR
A2
Apple
£200
S2
Apple
POR
S5
Apple
POR
K2
Apple 11
£200
P2
Apple II
£375
VI
Apple 11
£375
C6
Apple 11
£10
D1
Apple 11/ITT 2022
£250P
S4
Challenger
£25
C7
CBM
£10
H3
CP/M
£450
L3
CP/M
£475
LI
CP/M
£495
C4
CP/M
£500
G1
CP/M
£390
M3
CP/M
£500
B5
Cromemco
£350
B3
Famos
£1500
M2
ITT 2020
£375
C6
ITT 2020
North Star
£10
Dl
Horizon
North Star
£350
B3
Horizon
£390
M3
PET
£200/350
C5
PET
£50/25
195
A1
PET
£50/195
12
PET
£10
Dl
PET/CBM
£150
G2
PET/CBM
£150
J1
PET/CBM
£150
C2
Scorcerer
£250
L2
Superbrain
£390
M3
Superbrain
£400
S6
Tandv Model 1
£249
Ml
TRS-80
£200
HI
TRS-801
£218
T1
TRS-8011
£375
T1
8000 Series
£250
C2
8080/Z 80
£475
LI
8080/Z80
£275
G3
PET/CBM
£150
G2
PET/CBM
£150
J1
PET/CBM
£150
C2
Sorcerer
£250
L2
Tandy Model I
£249
Ml
TRS-80
£200
HI
TRS-801
£218
K1
TRS-801
£218
T1
TRS-8011
£375
T1
8000 Series
£250
C2
8080/Z80
£475
LI
8080/Z80
£275
G3
Personnel records
Apple 11
£98
P2
CP/M
£450
C4
MCZ Zilog
£500 +
11
PET
£85
H2
Petaid report
Commodore/
generator
Computhink
£125
S3
Petsoft programs
PET/CBM
£160
J1
Planning/Maintenance
PET/8032
£595
SI
Postal advertising
response package
Apple
£350
S2
PR/advertising
Commodore/
package
Computhink
£1000
S3
Price lister
CBM
£12
H3
Printers job control
Commodore/
Computhink
£250
S3
Production analysis
Apple II
£75
P2
CP/M
£700
C4
PET/CBM
£300
B1
Prof appts groups
8080/Z80
£275
G3
Prof appts individ
8080/Z80
£220
G3
Prof client billing
8080/Z80
£330
G3
Programming aids
Apple 11
£40
P2
Property management
CP/M
£450-1000 C4
CP/M
North Star
£400
M3
Horizon
£400
M3
Superbrain
£400
M3
Purchase ledger
Apple
£300
A2
Application
Machine
Price
Code
Apple
£300
S5
Apple
£300
K2
Apple II
£295
C6
Apple 11
£300
PI
Apple II
£300
P2
Apple 11
£315
VI
Apple ll/ITT 2020
£250P
S4
CBM
£350
H3
Challenger
Commodore/
£25
C7
Computhink
POR
S3
CP/M
£500
C4
CP/M
£450
G1
CP/M
£500
L3
CP/M
£425
LI
CP/M
£400
M3
CP/M
£200
B5
CP/M
£275
S7
Cromemco
£250
B3
ITT 2020
£295
C6
ITT 2020
North Star
£300
PI
Horizon
North Star
£250
B3
Horizon
£400
M3
Superbrain
£400
M3
Superbrain
PCC 2000
£300
S6
Simpelec Triton 3
£350
B2
PET
£300
B4
PET
£95/120/
350
:ai
PET/CBM
£200
C2
PET/CBM
POR
J1
PET/8032
£395
SI
Sharp PC3201
£300
P2
Tandy Model 1
£90
Ml
Tandv Model II
£90
Ml
TRS-80
£225
HI
TRS-801
£225
T1
TRS-8011
£375
T1
Vector
£400
C5
8000 Series
£250
C2
8080/Z80
£275
G3
8080/Z80
£425
LI
Quotation estimating
Apple 11
£300
PI
Revolving credit
Cromemco
£400 +
B3
Sales ledger Apple
£300
A2
Apple
£300
S5
Apple
£300
K2
Apple II
£295
C6
Apple II
£300
PI
Apple II
£300
P2
Apple II
£315
VI
Apple 11/ITT 2020
£250P
S4
CBM
£350
H3
Challenger
£25
C7
Commodore/
Computhink
POR
S3
CP/M
£500
C4
CP/M
£450
G1
CP/M
£500
L3
CP/M
£425
LI
CP/M
£400
M3
CP/M
£200
B5
CP/M
£275
S7
Cromemco
£250
B3
ITT 2020
£295
C6
ITT 2020
£300
PI
North Star
Horizon
£250
B3
North Star
Horizon
£400
M3
PCC 2000
Simpelec Triton 3
£350
B2
PET
£300
B4
PET
£800
Cl
PET
£95/350
A1
PET/CBM
POR
Jl
PET/CBM
£200
C2
PET/8032
£395
SI
Sharp PC 3201
£300
P2
Superbrain
£400
M3
Superbrain
£300
S6
Tandy Model I
£90
Ml
Tandy Model II
£90
Ml
TRS-80
£225
HI
TRS-801
£225
T1
TRS-8011
£375
T1
Vector
£400
C5
8000 Series
£250
C2
8080/Z80
£275
G3
8080/Z80
£425
LI
Salesman Apple II
£10
Dl
ITT 2020
£10
Dl
PET
£10
Dl
Screen generator MCZ Zilog
£75 +
11
S/L, P/L & Apple/Apple II
£900
P2
stock control CP/M
£1000
L3
Solicitor’s complete Apple
£3000
S2
record accounting
Solicitor’s package PET/8032
£750
SI
Statistics Apple
£150
G3
Apple II
£100-195
P2
TRS-80
£45
S2
Stock control/ Altos (CP/M,
recording MP/M)
£300
B1
Apple
POR
A2
Apple
POR
K2
Apple
POR
S5
Apple
£150
G3
Apple
£80
S2
Apple 11
£75/300
P2
Apple 11
£10
Dl
Apple II
£285
VI
Apple II
£300
PI
Apple II/ITT 2020
£500
S4
CBM
£35/25
H3
Challenger
Commodore/
£25
C7
Computhink
£100/250
S3
CP/M
£325
LI
CP/M
£500-1500 C4
CP/M
£350
G1
CP/M
£900
M3
CP/M
£500
B5
Cromemco
£450
B3
Famos
£1500
M2
ITT 2020
£10
Dl
ITT 2020
£300
PI
MZ-80K
North Star
£150
P2
Horizon
North Star
£450
B3
Horizon
PCC 2000
£900
M3
Simpelec Triton 3
£350
B2
PET
£12/25/
350
A1
PET
£10
Dl
PET
£195
12
PET
£300
B4
PET
£15
A2
PET/CBM
£300
B1
PET/CBM
£150
C2
PET/CBM
£150
Jl
PET/CBM
£150
G2
PET/Computhink
£250
R 1
PET/8032
£395
SI
Sharp PC3201
£300
P2
Superbrain
£900
M3
Superbrain
£300
S6
Tandy Model 1
£30-50
Ml
Tandv Model 11
£300
Ml
TRS-80
£48
S2
TRS-80
£200
HI
TRS-80
£115
Jl
TRS-801
£200
T1
TRS-8011
£375
T1
8080/Z80
£275
G3
8080/Z80
£325
LI
TAP business system
PET
£125
H2
Text file librarian
Apple 11/ITT 2020
£125
S4
Time/cost recording
Apple
£450
S2
Apple II
Commodore/
£300
PI
Computhink
POR
S3
CP/M
£400
G1
CP/M
£200
M3
Cromemco
£250
B3
ITT 2020
North Star
£300
PI
Horizon
£250
B3
North Star
Horizon
PCC 2000
£200
M3
Simpelec Triton 3
£350
B2
PET/CBM
£300
B1
Superbrain
£200
M3
Tandy Model 1
POR
Ml
Tandy Model 11
POR
Ml
Travel agency accts
Superbrain
£800
S6
Tandy Model I
£225
G4
Tandy Model II
£225
G4
Travel Agents Dairy
Tandy Model I
£100
G4
Tandy Model li
£100
G4
Travel Ticket Sales
Tandy Model I
£225
G4
Tandy Model II
£225
G4
Utilities
Apple/Apple II
£40
P2
Apple II
£20
C6
ITT 2020
£20
C6
Utility set
CBM
£78
H3
Various engineering
Tektronix
El
VAT
PET
£17.50
A1
VAT master
CBM
£25
H3
VAT register
TRS-80
£15
HI
Vet package
PET/8032
POR
SI
Video message
Apple
£200
G3
Warehousing
PET/8032
POR
SI
Word processing
ACT 800
£375
H4
Apple
£60
S2
Apple
£75
K2
Apple
£75
S5
Apple
£75
A2
Apple II
£150-300
P2
Apple II
£75
Jl
Apple II
£120
VI
Apple II
£40
Dl
Apple 11/ITT 2020
£180/95
S4
CBM
Commodore/
£35
H3
Computhink
£120
S3
CP/M
£150-260
C4
CP/M
£400
G1
CP/M
£250
M3
Famos
£500
M2
ITT 2020
£40
Dl
MCZ Zilog
North Star
£500 +
11
Horizon
£250
M3
PET
£85/65/
40/20
H2
PET
£40
Dl
PET
£375
H4
PET
£25/325
A1
PET
£325
C5
PET/CBM
£75/150
C2
PCW 161
PACKAGES
Application
Machine
Price
(ode
PET/CBM
£75'150
J!
PET/CBM
£75/150
G2
Superbrain
£250
M3
Tandy Model 1
£50/75
Ml
Tandv Model II
£175-240
Ml
TRS-80
£30/60/90 S2
TRS-80
£45/95
J1
TRS-80
£15
HI
Vector
£400
C5
8000 Series
£250
C2
Machines
Machine
Application
Price
Code
ACT 800
Database management/
£225
H4
Word processing
£375
H4
Altos (CP/M.
Integrated accts
£300
B1
MP/M)
Mailing list
£75
Bl
Slock control/recording £300
Hi
Apple
Contract costing
£450
PI
Database management/
information retrieval
Database management/
£150
K2
intormation retrieval
£150
A2
Database management/
information retrieval
Database management/
£60-140
S2
intormation retrieval
£150
S5
Database management
£75
P2
Estate agent
£850
S5
Estate agent
£850
A2
Estate agent
£850
K2
General ledger/NL
£300
K2
General ledger/NL
£300
A2
General ledger/N/L
£450
P2
General ledger/NL
£300
S5
Incomplete records
POR
K2
Incomplete records
£250
S2
Incomplete records
£450
PI
Incomplete records
Industry factory
£450
P2
loading
£360
XI
Industry work studv
£990
XI
Invoicing
£295
S2
Invoicing
£300
P2
Job costing
£450
S2
Job costing
£990
XI
Mailing list
£300
K2
Mailing list
£300
A2
Mailing list
£40
P2
Mailing list
£50-150
S2
Mailing list
£300
S5
Mail shot
£14
S2
Payroll
POR
S5
Payroll
POR
K2
Payroll
POR
A2
Payroll
Postal advertising
£200
S2
response package
£350
S2
Purchase ledger
£300
K2
Purchase ledger
£300
P2
Purchase ledger
£300
A2
Purchase ledger
£300
S5
Quotation estimating
£300
PI
Sales ledger
£300
A2
Sales ledger
£300
K2
Sales ledger
£300
S5
Sales ledger
Solicitor’s complete
£300
P2
record accounting
£3000
S2
Statistics
£150
G3
Statistics
£100/195
P2
Stock control/recording £150
G3
Stock control/recording POR
K2
Stock control/recording £300
P2
Stock control/recording POR
A2
Stock control/recording £80
S2
Stock control/recording POR
S5
Time/cost recording
£450
S2
Video message
£200
G3
Word processing
£75
K2
Word processing
£75
A2
Word processing
£60
S2
Word processing
£300
P2
Word processing
£75
S5
Apple 11
Bank account
£10
D1
Cash flow
£80
VI
Cash flow
£75
P2
Cash register
Database management/
£10
D1
information retrieval
£98
P2
General ledger/NL
£225
VI
General ledger/NL
£450
P2
General ledger/NL
£295
C6
Incomplete records
£300
P2
Integrated accts
£855
VI
Integrated accts
£450
PI
Integrated accts
£300
P2
Invoicing
£140
VI
Invoicing
£300
PI
Invoicing
£300
P2
Job costing
£300
PI
Letter writer
£80
VI
Mailing list
£50
Dl
Mailing list
£40
P2
Mail shot
£225
P2
Pad to plotter system
£250
P2
Payroll
£375
VI
Payroll
£200
P2
Payroll
£375
C'6
Payroll
£10
Dl
Personnel records
£75
P2
Production analysis
£75
P2
Programming aids
£40
P2
Purchase ledger
£315
VI
Purchase ledger
£300
PI
Purchase ledger
£300
P2
Purchase ledger
£295
C6
Sales ledger
£315
VI
Application
Sales ledger
Sales ledger
Sales ledger
Salesman
Statistics
Stock control/recording
Stock control/recording
Stock control/recording
Stock control/recording
Time/cost recording
Utilities
Word processing
Word processing
W ord processing
Word processing
Price
Code
£300
PI
£300
P2
£295
C6
£10
Dl
£100-195
P2
£285
VI
£300
PI
£300
P2
£10
Dl
£300
PI
£20
C6
£120
VI
£150-300
P2
£40
Dl
£75
Jl
Apple 11/
Database management/
ITT 2020
information retrieval
£100
S4
Estate agent
£750
S4
Financial planning
£250
S4
(ieneral ledger/NL
£250P
S4
Mailing list
£100
S4
Office admin
£100
S4
Payroll
£250P
S4
Purchase ledger
£250P
S4
Sales ledger
£250P
S4
Stock control/recordine £500
S4
Text file librarian
£125
S4
Word processing
£180/95
S4
CBM
Bureau de change
£8
H3
Estate agent
£30
H3
General ledger/NL
£200
H3
Mailing list
£35
H3
Payroll
£10
H3
Price lister
£12
H3
Purchase ledger
£350
H3
Sales ledger
£350
H3
Stock control/recordine £35/25
H3
Lltility set
£78
H3
VAT master
£25
H3
Word processing
£35
H3
Challenger
Appointment Planner
£25
C7
Invoicing
£25
C7
Mail Shot
£25
Cl
Payroll
£25
Cl
Purchase Ledger
£25
Cl
Sales Ledger
£25
Cl
Stock Control
£25
Cl
Commodore/
Appointments planner
£100
S3
Computhink
Bank accounts
Bonds/pension
£100
S3
quotations
Database management/
£100
S3
information retrieval
£45-250
S3
Estate agent
£250
S3
General ledger/NL
POR
S3
Incomplete records
£750
S3
Integrated accts
POR
S3
Invoicing
POR
S3
Mailing list
£100
S3
Mail shot
£125
S3
Petaid report generator
£125
S3
PR/advertising package
£1000
S3
Printers job control
£250
S3
Purchase ledger
POR
S3
Sales ledger
POR
S3
Stock control/recording
£100/250
S3
Time/cost recording
POR
S3
Word processing
£120
S3
CP/M
Bill of materials
£500
B5
Cash flow
£250
L3
Cash flow
£95
B5
Company secretary
£450
C4
Contract costing
Database management /
£2000
L3
information retrieval
£150-750
C4
Database manatement/
information trerieval
Equipment lease/rent/
£100
G3
HP
£400
Gl
Estate agents
Financial modelling
Financial modelling
General ledger/NL
General ledger/NL
General ledger/NL
General ledger/NL
General ledger/NL
General ledger/NL
General ledger/NL
Incomplete Records
Incomplete Records
Industry factory
loading
Industry work study
Integrated accts
Integrated accts
Integrated accts
Integrated accts
Integrated accts
Integrated accts
Invoicing
Invoicing
Invoicing
Invoicing
Job costing
Job costing
Job costing
Legal precedents
Letter Writer
Mailing list
Mailing list
Mailing list
Mail shot
Mail shot
Order entry/invoicing
Order processing
Payroll
Payroll
Payroll
£750
£400
£95
£500
£500
£400
£375
£200
£275
£400
£250
£750
£360
£990
£1500
£1100
£950
£690
£850
£990
£325
£150-350
£150
£250
£700
£990
£350
£1100
£150
£50-150
£250
£75
£200-360
£90
£350
£550
£450
£495
£500
C4
Gl
B5
L3
C4
Gl
LI
B5
S7
M3
B5
M3
XI
XI
C4
Gl
LI
B5
S7
M3
LI
C4
S7
M3
C4
XI
M3
C4
M3
C4
Gl
S7
G4
M3
Gl
LI
L3
C4
Gl
Application
Payroll
Payroll
Payroll
Personnel records
Production analysis
Property management
Property management
Purchase ledger
Purchase ledger
Purchase ledger
Purchase ledger
Purchase ledger
Purchase ledger
Purchase ledger
Sales ledger
Sales ledger
Sales ledger
Sales ledger
Sales ledger
Sales ledger
Sales ledger
S/L, P/L + stock
control
Stock control/recording
Stock control/recording
Stock control/recording
Stock control/recording
Stock control/recording
Time/cost recording
Time/cost recording
Word processing
Word processing
W ord procesing
Price
Code
£475
LI
£500
B5
£390
M3
£450
C4
£700
C4
£450-1000 C4
£400
M3
£500
L3
£450
Gl
£425
LI
£500
C"4
£200
B5
£275
SI
£400
M3
£500
L3
£500
C4
£450
Gl
£425
LI
£200
B5
£275
SI
£400
M3
£1000
L3
£325
LI
£500-1500 C4
£350
£500
£900
£400
£200
£400
£150-260
£250
Gl
B5
M3
Gl
M3
Gl
C4
M3
Cromemco
Database management/
information retrieval
£250
B3
General ledger/NL
£250
B3
Hire purchase
£400 +
B3
Integrated accts
£950
B3
Invoicing
£100
B3
Leasing
£400 +
B3
Purchase ledger
£250
B3
Revolving credit
£400 +
B3
Sales ledger
£250
B3
Stock control/recording £450
B3
Time/cost recording
£250
B3
Famos
Customer file
£1000
M2
Data base
£1500
M2
Integrated accts
£2000
M2
Motor dealer
£5000
M2
Payroll
£1500
M2
Stock control
£1500
M2
Word processing
£500
M2
ITT 2020
Bank account
£10
Dl
Cash register
£10
Dl
General ledger/NL
£295
C6
Integrated accts
£450
PI
Invoicing
£300
PI
Job costing
£300
PI
Mailing list
£50
Dl
Payroll
£10
Dl
Payroll
£375
C6
Purchase ledger
£300
PI
Purchase ledger
£295
C6
Sales ledger
£300
PI
Sales ledger
£295
C6
Salesman
£10
Dl
Stock control/recording £10
Dl
Stock control/recording £300
PI
Time/cost recording
£300
PI
Utilities
£20
C6
Word processing
£40
Dl
MCZ Zilog
Budgeting package
£500 +
11
Conference organiser
£500 +
11
Mail shot
£200
II
Personnel records
£500 +
11
Screen generator
£75 +
II
Word processing
£500 +
11
MZ-80K
Integrated accounts
£150
P2
Stock control/recording £150
P2
North Star
Database management/
Horizon
information retrieval
£250
B3
Estate agent
£750
B5
General ledger/NL
£250
B3
General ledger/NL
£400
M3
Incomplete records
£750
M3
Integrated accts
£950
B3
Integrated accts
£990
M3
Invoicing
£100
B3
Invoicing
£250
M3
Job costing
£350
M3
Letter writer
£150
M3
Mail shot
£90
M3
Payroll
£350
B3
Payroll
£390
M3
Property Management
£400
M3
Purchase ledger
£250
B3
Purchase ledger
£400
M3
Sales ledger
£250
B3
Sales ledger
£400
M3
Stock control/recording £450
B3
Stock control/recordng
£900
M3
Time/cost recording
£250
B3
Time/cost recording
£200
M3
Word processing
£250
M3
PCC 2000
Estate Agent
£350
B2
Simpelec
General ledger/NL
£350
B2
Triton 3
Mail Shot
£450
B2
Purchase ledger
£350
B2
Sales ledger
£350
B2
Stock control/recording £350
B2
Time/cost recording
£350
B2
PET
Bank account
£10
Dl
Cash flow
£8
Al
Cash register
£10
Dl
Credit control
£650
B4
Database management/
information retrieval
POR
Cl
162 PCW
PACKAGES
■fintUT
Application
Database management/
information retrieval
Database management/
information retrieval
Database management/
information retrieval
Estate agent
General ledger/NL
Industry factory
loading
Industry work study
Invoicing
Invoicing
Job costing
Lotteries
Mailing list
Mailing list
Mailing list
Membership accting
Payroll
Payroll
Payroll
Payroll
Payroll
Personnel records
Purchase ledger
Purchase ledger
Purchase ledger
Sales ledger
Sales ledger
Sales ledger
Salesman
Stock control/recording
Stock control/recording
Stock control/recording
Slock control/recording
Stock control/recording
TAP business system
VAT
Word processing
Word processing
Word processing
W ord processing
Word processing
Assembler dev
Database management/
information retrieval
Database management/
information retrieval
Database management/
information retrieval
Database management/
information retrieval
Disk operating system
General ledger/NL
Integrated accts
Integrated accts
Integrated accts
Integrated accts
Invoicing
Invoicing
Lisp
Mailing list
Pascal
Payroll
Payroll
Payroll
Petsoft programs
Production analysis
Purchase ledger
Purchase ledger
Sales ledger
Sales ledger
Stock control/recording
Stock control/recording
Price
Cod
£325
A1
£225
H4
£170
C3
£25
A1
£1000
Cl
£300
XI
£750
XI
£350
A1
£400
Cl
£750
XI
£45
H2
£15
A1
£50
Dl
£45
H2
£85»
H2
£50/195
12
£10
Dl
£50/25/
195
A1
POR
Cl
£200/350
C5
£85
H2
£95/120/
350
A1
£1000
Cl
£300
B4
£300
B4
£800
Cl
£95/350
A1
£10
Dl
: £195
12
: £10
Dl
: £12/25/
350
A1
: £15
A2
: £300
B4
£125
H2
£17.50
A1
£40
Dl
£85/65/
40/20
H2
£375
H4
£25/325
A1
325
C5
£50
C2
£75
B1
£50/150
C2
£150
C.2
£150
J1
£150
B1
£200
C2
£300
B1
£(50)
C2
£650
G2
£650
J1
POR
J1
£25-50
B1
£75
C2
£75
B1
£120
C2
£150
G2
£150
J1
£150
C2
£160
J1
£300
B1
£200
C2
POR
J1
POR
J1
£200
J1
£150
C2
£300
B1
Machine
Application
Price
Code
Stock control/recording £150
G2
Stock control/recording £150
J1
Time/cost recording
£300
B1
Word processing
£75/150
J1
Word processing
£75/150
G2.
Word processing
£75/150
C2
PET/
Stock control/recording £250
R1
Computhink
PET/8032
Mailing list
£75/150
SI
Planning maintenance
£595
SI
Purchase ledger
£395
SI
Sales ledger
£395
SI
Solicitor’s package
£750
SI
Stock control/recording £395
SI
Vet package
POR
SI
Warehousing
POR
SI
Sharp PC-3201
General ledger
£450
P2
Sales ledger
£300
P2
Purchase ledger
£300
P2
Stock control
£300
P2
Sorcerer
Payroll
£250
L2
Superbrain
Database
£300
S6
Estate agent
£800
S6
General ledger
£400
M3
General ledger
£400
S6
Incomplete Records
£750
M3
Integrated Accts
£1200
S6
Integrated Accts
£990
M3
Invoicing
£250
M3
Invoicing
£150
S6
Job costing
£350
M3
Letter writer
£150
M3
Mail shot
£90
M3
Payroll
£400
S6
Payroll
£390
M3
Property management
£400
M3
Purchase ledger
£300
S6
Purchase ledger
£400
M3
Sales ledger
£300
S6
Sales ledger
£400
M3
Stock control
£300
S6
Stock control
£900
M3
Time recording
£200
M3
Word processing
£250
M3
Travel agency accts
£800
S6
Tandy Model I
Database management/
information retrieval
£25-80
Ml
General ledger/NL
£90
Ml
Incomplete records
£40
Ml
Integrated accts
£350
Ml
Invoicing
£90
Ml
Job costing
POR
Ml
Mailing list
£40
Ml
Mail shot
£75 +
G4
Payroll
£249
Ml
Purchase ledger
£90
Ml
Sales ledger
£90
Ml
Stock control/recording £30-50
Ml
Travel Agency Accts
£225
G4
Travel Agents Dairy
£100
G4
Travel Ticket Sales
£225
G4
Time/cost recording
POR
Ml
Word processing
£50/75
Ml
Tandy Model II
C Basic
£70
Ml
CP/M + utilities
£150
Ml
General ledger/NL
£90
Ml
Integrated accts
£350
Ml
Invoicing
£90
Ml
Job costing
POR
Ml
Mailing list
£75
Ml
Mail shot
£75
Ml
Mail shot
£75 +
G4
Purchase ledger
£90
Ml
Sales ledger
£90
Ml
Stock control/recording £300
Ml
Machine
Application
Time/cost recording
Travel Agency Accts
Travel Agency Diary
Travel Ticket Sales
W ord processing
Price
POR
£225
£100
£225
£175-24(1
Code
Ml
G4
G4
G4
i Ml
Tektronix
Various engineering
Packages
El
TRS-80
Database management/
information retrieval
£60
S2
Database management/
information retrieval
£32.50
HI
Database management
information retrieval
£150
J1
General ledger/NL
£225
HI
Incomplete records
£40
HI
Integrated accts
£75
J1
Investment portfolio
£20
S2
Invoicing
£25
HI
Mailing list
£25/38/
55
HI
Mailing list
£50-150
S2
Payroll
£200
HI
Purchase ledger
£225
HI
Sales ledger
£225
HI
Statistics
£45
S2
Stock control/recording £200
HI
Stock control/recording £48
S2
Stock control/recording £115
J1
VAT register
£15
HI
Word processing
£45/95
J1
Word processing
£15
HI
Word processing
£30/60/
90
S2
TRS-80I
General ledger/NL
£225/325 T1
Invoicing
£75
T1
Payroll
£218
T1
Purchase ledger
£225
T1
Sales ledger
£225
T1
Stock control/recording £200
T1
TRS-80II
General ledgcr/NL
£425
T1
Invoicing
£125
T1
Payroll
£375
T1
Purchase ledger
£375
T1
Sales ledger
£375
T1
Stock control/recording £375
T1
Vector
General ledger/NL
£400
C5
Integrated accts
£1000
C5
Purchase ledger
£400
C5
Sales ledger
£400
C5
Word processing
£40
C5
8000 Series
Database management/
information retrieval
POR
C2
Integrated accts
POR
C2
Payroll
£250
C2
Purchase ledger
£250
C2
Sales ledger
£250
C2
Word processing
£250
C2
General ledger/NL £275 G3
General ledger/NL £375 LI
Integrated accts £950 LI
Integrated accts £995 G3
Invoicing £325 LI
Job order control £257 G3
Order processing £550 LI
Payroll £475 LI
Payroll £275 G3
Prof appts groups £275 G3
Prof appts individ £220 G3
Prof client billing £330 G3
Purchase ledger £425 LI
Purchase ledger £275 G3
Sales ledger £275 G3
Sales ledger £425 LI
Stock control/recording £325 LI
Stock control/recording £275 G3
TRANSACTION FILE
We charge a flat fee of £ 1 for one insertion of up to 30 words. Ads for this section are accepted only
from non-commercial readers. Please type or write clearly. Send your ad plus PO or cheque for £1, payable
to Sportscene Publishers (PCW) Ltd, to: Transaction File, PCW, 14 Rathone Place, London W1P IDE
PET 3016. . . 16k, new ROM,
large keyboard, green screen,
cassette deck, soundbox, many
games tapes, me Invaders,
Acrobat, startrek, beginners
course, £500. 94 Coventry Rd,
Exhall, Coventry, tel: Coventry
(0203) 366505.
Atari Video Computer. . . all
controller types, 22 cartridges
inc Space Invaders, Soccer,
Superman,' Adventure, Casino,
Indy 500, Bowling, Golf,
Basketball, Circus, only £300,
worth over £550. Tel: Tenter-
den 3830 eve.
TJK101. . i 8k RAM, cased, 1 or
2 MHz, sound board and I/O
port, doc*software, £260 ono.
Extra sound board, fully b u ilt
and tested, £25. Tel: Leeds
561967.
Sharp Serial Printer Interface. . .
made by 3D, interfaces MZ-
80k to serial printers with either
RS232C or 20mA loop, with
circuit & components for hand¬
shake, £70. Tel: Whitaker,
Retford 702608.
Acorn Atom. . . 8k + 5k, PSU,
leads, 4 mnths old, manuals.
Magic Book user group news¬
letters, £18o or nearest. Tel:
Great Bolas 432 (after 5pm).
Nascom II. . . 16k, graphics
ROM, sound chip, fitted in
attache case, £325. Tel:
Matlock (0629) 3528,
Superboard Series II. . . 8k RAM,
Wemon monitor, power supply
unit, plus high speed cassette
interface kit, a four tapes and
user group newsletters, £160.
Tel: Oxford (0865) 46823.
Acorn Atom. . . 12k RAM, 8k
ROM. Basic and assemblr. Acorn
built, tested, as new, all leads
and manuals, needs external
regulated PSU, £200. Write: Ian
Paton, 39 Yates Street, Liverpool.
PET 32k. . . & cassette, h’ware
reset switch, various progs,
user manual, £550 the lot. Tel
John, Colnbrook 3854 eve &
wkend, or 01-250 1500 ext
245 day.
PET 8k. . . new ROMs, green
screen, integral cassette deck,
soundbox, some software, little
used, as new cond. £395. Tel:
Southampton 25621.
PET 8k. . . new ROM, external
cassette etc, manuals, plenty of
software, cover, superb condi¬
tion, private use only, friendly
help if needed, £400. Tel:
Wyndham (Norfolk) 602951.
Nascom II. . . 16k RAM & board
at 4MHz graphics ROM, 3 amp
PSU, Vero case, £450 ono cash.
Casio FX502P with wallet,
program library and manual
£40 ono cash. Ring 01-647
1541.
ZX81. . . yes 81! Factory built,
16k RAM. leads, manual and
three Sinclair cassettes, only
12 weeks old. Sold to first offer
of £110. Ring 0484 89 2837 after
7pm.
ZX81. . . factory built, only used
twice, complete with leads,
main adaptor, manual and
cassette of Sine games, £65 ono.
Tel: 01-958 5931 after 5.
*
PET 8k. . . new ROM large key¬
board, soundbox books, maga¬
zines also programs included,
£400. Tel: Derby (0332)
371473.
PCW 163
Not since the days of Watergate has there been a
public scandal of such far-reaching implications.
It has recently come to the attention of the
PCW Secret Police that certain regular readers have
been storing their valuable back issues ‘au naturelle’.
We consider this practise to be singularly lacking
in dignity, and would therefore appeal to you in the
name of common decency to please ensure that your
magazines are properly dressed at all times.
This may be achieved by the simple expedient of
purchasing one or more of our sturdy yet colourful
PCW binders.
So why not join in the great cover-up and preserve
your precious PCW 's in their original pristine perfec¬
tion.
Just check the coupon at the foot of the page.
PCW 164
TRANSACTION FILE
PET 8k 2001. . . owner upgrading,
hence £350 ono, + PET manual
+ subroutines + Strathclyde Basic
+ programs (statistics/home
finance/games etc). Tel: Sharp-
thorne 810006 eve, w/ends. Can
deliver anywhere in South East.
Triton. . . with Basic, Pascal &
Assembler. 16k RAM, 4800
baud interface, keyboard repeat
& spare i/o ports, also Imp
printer, all for less than half
original cost. Tel: Dublin
854250.
Free PET. . . (not working),
old ROM, witn 24k expansion,
programs and manuals, when
you buy PET tractor printer
3022 ingood working order,
little used, for £400 cash, buyer
collects. J Tobin, Flat 3,18
Acton Street, London WC1X
9ND.
PET 16k. . . new ROM, large
keyboard, 40+programs, PET
revealed, soundbox, magazines,
blank tapes, original packing,
will deliver m London, £450.
Tel: 040 488-212 or 01-727
2476.
Sharp MZ-80K. . . 48k, exten¬
ded Basic, programmers toolkit,
games, manuals, virtually unused,
£450. Tel: Bolton (0204)
493074.
IBM 375. . . golfball I/O type¬
writer complete with all
solenoids & wiring, full upper
& lower case keyboard, econo¬
mical correspondence quality
printer also usable as typewriter.
Tel: 01-445 3000.
Acorn Atom. . . 12k RAM,
floating point, built by Acorn,
complete with manuals, leads,
PSU and some software, little
used £195. Tel: Paul, Much
Hadham (027984) 2540.
Phillips G7000.. . games compu¬
ter with 11 cartridges inc.
programming, Othello, golf etc,
owner going on to bigger things,
£100 Tel: 0621 740075 (Essex).
Apple Users. . . Supertalker and
Speechlabs Heuristics set (incl ,
2 cards, 2 diskettes, 2 mics,
cassette, full documentation),
surplus to requirements, £180.
Tel 0621 740075 (Essex).
Exidy Sorcerer 32k. . . with soft¬
ware worth over £200 inc Chess,
Adventure, Disassembler, Debug
etc, 2 years back numbers PCW,
PC, £480. Quality printer £175.
All cables, manuals inc Tel:
01-776 1705.
Video Genie EG3003. . . with
4th arrow and level meter and
original box, only 3 months
old, still under guarantee, lots of
programs and bits and pieces,
£299. Tel: 01-300 0657 (Sidcup).
Intelivision. . . with football and
golf carts. With sound effects,
seeing mine friends bougat,
so I bought TRS-80, cost £219,
sell for £175 (+ p&p). 6 months
old, boxed. Tel: Colnbrook
(Berks) 2504.
Challenger C2 computer. . .
cegmon monitor, 8k RAM,
Microsoft Basic in 8k ROM,
sound, D/A, video and RF
outputs, cassette I/O, printer
20mA I/O, colour circuitry added
64 x 32/32 x 32 screen res,
£420 ono. TV/monitor,
cassette, A SR 3 3 available. Tel:
Brighton 561670 after 6.
Texas TI58 prog calc. . . as new
offer includes master module
(inc labels) manuals,
coding sheets, case and mains
adaptor/charger, £45. Tel:
Taunton (0823) 73915.
Sharp MZ-80P printer. . . with
MZ80-I/O interface unit. Only
2 months old. Perfect cond, only
£490 complete, quick sale. Tel:
(0384)232095.
GE PTR66 paper tape reader
150 CPS, a synchronous stepping,
8-hole, integral power supplies,
£25, tel: 0494 28899.
OKI dot matrix printer. . . 80
char per line, 110 CPS, serial
and parallel interface, RS232
up to 9600 baud, standard
paper, £185, tel 0494 28899.
Tandy Model I. . . 16k, CPU and
VDU plus lots of programs.
£350 ono. 266 Poolstock Lane,
Wigan, Lancs
ZX80. . . with 4k & new 8k
ROMs. All leads, manual &
PSU. 30 games nn tape for 4k
ROM. £50 ono. Tel Carlisle
(0228) 35785 eve.
Casio fx502p. . . programmable
calculator in wallet, as new,
with overlay and instructions,
hardly used. Owner now uses a
micro. £50 ono. Telephone:
01-445 8507 (Finchley) after
7pm.
Tandy. . . 12in video monitor,
green screen, 5 months old,
rarely used, excellent condition,
Cost £100, sell for £80 ono.
Write to: Paul O’Neil, 187 Main
St, Chapelhall, Airdrie,
Scotland ML6 8SF.
Video Genie. . . 16k. Complete
with manuals & leads exc cond.
8 months old. £300 ono. Tel:
01-561 4918.
Apple II. . . 48k, disk drive,
manuals, word processing
package, chess, invaders etc.
£900. Decwriter IV 132 col.
printer + serial interface card
£400, or complete system
£1,200. Tel: Coleshill 62875
(STD 0675).
Video Genie. . . Latest model
with tab keys and VU meter,
sound fitted, with documenta¬
tion. Perfect condition, also
commercial software retail
value £120. Plus own software.
Bargain, both for £300. Tel
(0248)V12177.
32K PET COMPUTER. . . new
ROM, large keyboard, cassette
with sound and tapecounter.
Soundbox, toolkit superchip.
Games inc: microchess, invaders,
acrobat, 3-D startrek, nightdrive
and many others. Quck sale
£495. Bracknell (0344) 51024.
TRS-80 16k L2. . . 5 months
old, immaculate cond. With:
Sargon, Temple of Asphai +
more software. £340. Tel: 0922
30283 (after 5).
ZX80. . . Ik, factory built, all
leads, PSU, manual, Tim
Hartnell book. £60 ono. Tel:
01-360 8020 eves, to view
London N21.
For sale. . . PET 2001. 8k old
ROM, good cond, games
programmes, £300. Telephone
Wentworth 2181.
Tangerine Microtan 65. . . Latest
Tandbug, chunky graphics Tanex
with 10K Basic, XBug, 8k RAM.
12 slot motherboard keyboard,
PSU £300 ono. Tel: 01-223
4496 between 10 to 12am
Saturdays.
Sharp MZ-80k 48k. .. 6 months
old, £100 worth of programs
inc. machine language, space
invaders, star trek and many
other programs. Also dust cover.
£530. Phone David (0702)
612921.
ZX80. . . As new with 16k
RAM. Exc cond, PSU etc,
lots of software. 2 exc. books
— 30 progs for ZX80 + making
most of ZX80, also tapes with
games. All for £100. Tel:
Clevedon 877523.
TRS-80 Model II. . . 16k
complete system — VDU,
CTR-80 cassette, keyboard
with numeric keypad, latest
ROM — keyboard needs no
de-bouncing. Stacks of soft¬
ware: Invaders, Adventure,
etc. Still under gurantee.
£490. Tel: (0508) 470589
(Norfolk)
Acorn Atom. . . 12k+12k, leads,
manual, 6522, colour board,
power supply, many programs
£250 ono. Tel: (0533) 712614
after 4.30pm.
Nascom 1. . . with NAS-SYS
1, 5 amp PSU, dual monitor
board, blank EPROM and 2
cassettes of programs. All
documentation £120. Also
Casio fx501p and FA-1 £50.
Tel: Wargrave 4493.
UK101 8k. . . cased, new
EPROM monitor, high speed
cassette interface switchable
300/600/2400/4800 baud.
RS232 printer interface with
cables. Extended monitor, plus
cassette player, over 30
profesional games inc space
invaders, real time startrek,
£350 ono. Tel Brighouse (0484)
717974, can deliver within
reason.
ZX81. . . lVa months old, games
tape, manual, leads for 1/recorder,
PSU, any offers over £55 (inc
p&p) tel: Bradford 566221
after 4.
PET 32k. . . large keyboard,
external cassette recorder, tool¬
kit, speaker, many progs (inc
invader and microchess)
documentation and original box
etc. £500. Tel: William 01-550
4350 (buyer collects).
Acorn Atom. . . 12k ROM, 8k
RAM. inc floating point ROM,
power supply, all leads and
documentation. Cassette
recorder inc. £200 ono. Tel:
Stonehouse 791940. Lanarkshire,
Scotland.
Video Genie. . . perfect condition,
new type keys, 16k RAM, 8
months old, inc: manuals, leads,
some books, software inc —
Adventures, Flying Saucers,
Asteroids. Total cost new £440
sell £280. Phone: 053 718738.
PET 8032 + 8050 + Epson
MX80. . . with Aculab PET
interface + cassette + toolkit
+ cables + manuals etc. Mint
cond, hardly used. Cost over
£2,500, will accept £2150 ono.
Chris Lawless. Tel: 01-903 1333
(work), 0442 40953 (home).
TVI 921 video. . . 24x80
character display, upper and
lower case, numeric pad, with
editing and formating, RS232
interface, maintenance and
operation handbooks. £330.
01-908 0501 eve Mon-Fri.
TRS-80 . . . Model I, 48k, one
disk, lower case, green screen
all Tandy’s and few months old,
£1000, but will add tons of
software: Newdos/80. Scriptsit,
Sargon, Edtasm etc. Tel: 06755
2745.
4k UK101. . . cased, very good
cond. 3 monitors (wemon,
compshot + exmon). Fully
documentated with PSU and
some software. Worth £240 —
sell for £190 ono. Tel: Wrexham
364188.
ZX81. . . 16K RAM, exc cond.
Don’t wait 6-8wks — have it
now. Leads, manual, PSU,
games cassette. A snip at £120.
Tel: 01-607 3325 (w/ends only).
ITT 2020. . . 48k disk drive,
D/S 232K and large quantity
of software for sale. Computer
£500, disk £375. 01-249 9895.
Mk 14. . . issue 5, revised monitor,
E su, external keyboard, extra
terature, £20. Tel: Belfast
671734.
PET 32k. . . model 2001. small
keyboard, integral cassette,
manual plus some games, offers.
Tel: 01-866 2532.
A Centronic VCS. . . with 14
cartridges, inc programmable
cartridge turning tne unit into
a full computer, cost £280,
will sell £150 ono. Phone 0329
42654.
Sharp PC-1211. . . pocket
computer, 9 months old, cost
£94, sell for £70, as supplied
with 2yr gurantee, except box.
David Leigh, 21 Broadmead,
Parbold (02&76) 3661 after 6.
ZX80. . . complete. Sine built,
in good working order, manual,
all leads, and adaptor, £60 ono.
Tel: 021-308 0851 L Hands.
PET 8k. . . old ROMs, integral
cassette deck, recently serviced
by Commodore agents,
immaculate order with tapes,
games, RAM test etc.
Reluctantly accept first £315
ovno. Chester 675717 most
evenings.
Bargain Price Computing. . .
Open University microprocessor
£60, Sine ZX80 computer £40,
each complete with operating
manuals and hardly ever used,
will negotiate. Tel: Evenings,
Ruislip 73455.
Acorn Atom. . . 12k + 12k,
PSU, all leads, books, software,
games, etc. Acorn built, 6
months ola. Atom Club new-
sheets, programs, etc, £235.
Tel: Littlehampton 21676
eve & w/ends.
TI-58. . . calculator &
PC100A printer, inc extra
programs & leasure module,
£120, or swap with Printer/
ZX81 or ZX81 16k memory
unit, S Gimblett, 79 Calderwood
Cresent, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear.
Pet 2001 32k. . . (8k with expan¬
sion), getting married, therefore
only £450 ono. Complete with
invaders, PET revealed, monitor
etc. Tel: Coventry (0203) 412141
after 5.
Olivetti P652. . . 4k RAM, plus
600 X-Y plotter, both in good
working order, manuals, some
software, numerous mag cards
& printer rolls, £100 ono. Tel:
0282 867289
Olivetti P652. . . 4k RAM, +
600 X-Y plotter, both in good
working order, manuals, some
software, numerous mag. cards
& printer rolls, £100 ono. Tel:
0282-867289 (Colne, Lans).
UK101. . . 24k, cased. Cegmon,
toolkit & extended monitor in
EPROM, 300/600 baud switch-
able + 4800 baud card. 48x32
screen, loads of software, £450
ono. Tel: 01- 950 6936.
TRS-80 L2. . . progs, approx 50
on tape, £25 ono, inc Space In¬
vaders, some space games; 2
books of Basic games (approx
200), £7 ono; TRS-80 graphics,
£1 ono. Buyer collects. Tel Adam,
Northwood 27733.
Centronics Microprinter PI. . .
inc 5 rolls paper, £175 (£170
you collect). Tel 068-45 4930
eve/w-ends.
TRS-80 16k Level 2. . . with
lower case mod, green screen
monitor, cass recorder and
manual, 10 months old, very
little used, £370. Tel:01-778
8835.
8k PET. . . 24k expandamem
new Roms external keyboard,
toolkit, £450. Computhink
400k dual disk drive, £450.
Free with the above system over
300 PET programs. Phone 01-
894 7149.
UK101. . . 8k,boxed,orig
monitor, inc tapes, books, lots
of magazines & electric type¬
writer, £300 ono. Tel:
Newmarket 3185.
PET 8k. . . internal cassette,
sound, software (16 cassettes)
inc chess, invaders, acrobat,
breakout, assemblers, etc, best
offer will also swop, phone
Jeff. Leighton Buzzard
384874 eve.
Tangerine. . . 8k RAM, 1/case,
grapnics, psu ASCII keyboard,
10k Basic in Eprom, all in case,
with full documentation, only
5 months old, accept £220.
Tel Southend 545676.
Casio fx502p. . . library,
manuals, overlays, wallet.
December 1980, used but not
exhausted, £50 ono. Tel: 01-
947 1527.
Videomaster. . . Star Chess
(boxed), galaxy invader +
Binatone TV game (not
boxed), all for £70 or exchange
all for ZX80 (new ROM) or
ZX81. Tel: Swansea (0792)
795391 after 6.
PCW 165
TRANSACTION FILE
T158. . . Prog calc plus case,
mains adaptor /charger, and
manual, £30. Tel: (Hull) 0482
801428.
HP-41 C. . . with battery pack,
battery charger, 2 memory
modules games and maths
packs, all perfect cond. with
manuals, cost £250. accept
£160 ono. Tel: 01-806 4831.
ZX81. . . plus 16k RAM,
psu, leads and manual, many
g rogs, only 2 months old,
ardly used. £105 ono. Tel:
Derby (0332) 752567.
Acorn Atom. . . 12k + 12k,
superb cond, inc manual, mains
adaptor, tapes (invaders,
asteroids etc), UHF lead, load/
save lead, boxed, £235 tel:
Richard, Torquay 06332.
PET 3032. . . computer (32k,
large keyboard), disk drive
3040 (343k) each, £500 ono.
Cables, manuals and cassette
supplied. Tel: Aldershot
(0252) 317943 9am to 5 pm or
Leatherhead (03723) 79304
after 6 .
Sine ZX80. . . 6 months old.
Ik RAM, ex cond. Sine built,
with adaptor and ZX80
manual, £55. Tel: Leatherhead
77073 eve or w/ends.
Tangerine. . . Microtan 65,
latest Tanbug, grphics, key¬
board, MPSI power supply
with ±12 volts, as new,
£100. Watson, *Tel: 01-&03
4363.
32k pet 3032. . . CBM 3040
disk drive, CBM 3022 printer,
C2N cassette deck, £1800 (or
will split),plus a number of soft¬
ware packages. Tel: 07744
51425 (Lancs)
32k Sorcerer. . . all manuals,
2 motor-controlled cassette-
cables/modem connection,
working cassette, 3 adventures,
Startrek, Space Invaders +
various s’wre, £500 ono. Also
Casio fx502p prog calc, case,
full doc, £50 ono. All VGC 01-
670 1828.
PET 2001. . . 8 k integral cassette
deck, calculator keyboard +
documentation, etc, £300. For
quick sale. Slough 77695 eve/
w-ends.
TRS-80 L2 16k. . . VDU, cassette,
manual & pro aid, software,
Basic programming. Asteroid,
attack force, etc, about £400.
Tel: Floyd dl -862 1280, eve
only.
Acorn Atom. . . 12k + 12k,
power supply, lots of software,
£210. James Morecroft, 01-
789 9964.
Sharp MZ-80k (48k). . . 6 months
old, + toolkit and assembler,
manuals, large selection of games
and programs. £450 ono, may
deliver. Brighton (0273) 606876.
TRS-80 L2 16k. . . with c/recorder
VDU, power supply, manuals,
cassettes with games and many
other programs, like new condition
Tel: Mon-Fri, 8-6 Winsford
(06065) 3424 ask for Pollock.
Teletype KSR33. . . with floor
stand etc in good cond. & full
working order, £120 ono. Also
KSR35 (very silent) in perfect
cond, £200 ono. Contact J
Harmer (0532) 502954 after 7.
ZX81. . . with Sinclair 16k RAM
pack, Sinclair built, hardly used,
inc all leads, PSU and manual,
£100. Tel: Wvlam
(Northumberland) 06614 3629
after 5.
32k PET. . . Toolkit, Superchip,
Picchip, many games on cassette,
magazines (PCW, CT), mint cond,
also desk, £620 ONO. 7 Barton
St, Bath, Avon. Tel: Bath 66850
after 6-30.
PET 32k. . . 4016 professionally
uprated to 32k with cassette and
dozens of tapes, as new with
green screen and dust cover,
£600. TX80 printer with IEEE
card £280. 0442 41826.
Apple II + 48k. . . 2 disk drives
with controller, Dos 3.3. System
is unused and complete with all
manuals and books, some disk
software included ie editor
assembler, games. £1325. May
split. Tel: 01-450 5049 (eve)
ZX80. . . with 16k RAM,
Sine built, as new, cassette of
games, 3 books on ZX80, vgc
very good buy £95. Tel:
Brighton 415371 (eve).
ZX81. . . 16k RAM, complete.
Sine built, manual, 2 Sine
cassettes, £110. Phone 01-202
7203 eve or w/ends.
Structural engineering. . . s/ware
for PET, top quality progs on
cassette, for sale due to upgrade:
Keypack -1, Analysis of rigidly
jointed plane frames,
Keypack -2: analysis of pin
jointed plane frames, cost £600,
bargain at £300 or £150 ea.
Tel: 0752 51258 after 6.
Video Genie 16k. . . latest model,
8 colour board (fully software
compatible), fitted by Lowe,
exc cond, games & utility soft¬
ware, bargain at £270. Tel: 0272-
603252.
ZX81. . . complete with mains
adaptor, leads, manual and games
tape, £68. Tel: Bishops Stortford
(0279) 722098.
TRS80. . . 16k L2, boxed, perfect
cond, hardly used, plus manuals,
cover, games, level 2 course
cassette, £325, buyer collects. Tel:
Caine (0249) 813526 after 6.
UK101. . . cased, 12k RAM,
Mono2, Cegmon, 300/600 baud,
new power supply /transformer,
fan, expansion board has room
for additional 4k + 8k EPROM,
new Ba53, £300 ono. Tel:
Bromsgrove 71201.
ZX80. . . Ik, PSU, leads, manual,
users club mags and cassette
recorder. £60. Tel: Maidstone
76461 (day). Snodland 242-235
Mr Jefferys.
Video Genie 16k RAM. . . new
version (eg 3003), 4 months old,
as new, inc sound, joysticks,
£150. worth games, dustcover,
television. £400 ono. Tel:
Leicester 866265.
Video Genie. . . contrl keys,
sound, boxed with Edtasm,
ZBug, zchess, pirate, apshai,
trek mags PCW, CT, PC, fow
missing, TSR books, £310. Mr
E Bamber, 206 Brook St,
Preston
VDU. . . 80x24, separate numeric
pad, RS232 C & C/loop, 2 page
memory with scroll, loads of
features, was £700 new, hardly
used. C/w circuits, manual,
spare CRT, £200 ono. Phone
0442-43659.
Video Genie. . . latest model,
sound, manuals, £375 of progs,
you may wait forever for a
bargain like this, £450. Tel:
Hastings (0424) 427698.
Intel 8086. . . MPU + datasheet
(xlO), bought too many from
USA supplier now must sell at
loss as payment is due, will sell
for £69 inc p+p, contact:
Jonathan, tel: 01-223 7283.
48k Apple II. . . with disk drive
+ 3.3 controller, additional disk
drive & B/W TV Mod £1295 inc
spare disks. Centronic 737-2
printer + interface card £470
inc cable & paper. Tel Brian
Cranwell, Sheffield 754322 day
or 662746 eve.
Acorn 8k static. . . RAM board
with 2 sockets for 4k ROMs,
fully buffered with 64 pin plug,
£80 ono. Tel: Todmorden
(070 681) 4961.
HP41-C. . . calculator complete
with 3 memory modules all in
F erfect cond. £227 value, yours
or £145. Tel: 01-235 70^10
ext 372 office hrs.
FX502P. . . perfect working
order, in orig box with wallet,
overlay and manuals, also
several programs using novel
display techniques inc
Mastermind & Fighter Pilot,
offers around £50 to: 061
761 5654.
Acorn Atom. . . 12k RAM, 8k
ROM, PSU, leads and manual
perfect working order, £179.
Phone Poole 85180 eve or
weekends.
ZX80. . . 16k RAM pack.
Sine built, leads, PSU. manual,
two 5 program tapes & book,
good cond, all worth £170.
Sell for £100 ono. Tel:
Bradford (0274) 594536 after
5.
Casio fx501P. . . prog calc, 128
program steps, 11 non-volatile
memories, complete with
manual and program library,
£40 ono. Tel: (0803) 844229.
CBM 3032. . . Toolkit, Tensai
deck with counter and sound,
dustcover, books £525. PET
2008, Dustcover, books £275.
Tel: 047483 493 S W Wiltshire.
Acorn Atom. . . 8k RAM, 8k
ROM, new Acorn 8k RAM/
ROM card, buffers, connectors,
3A PSU, new keyboard. £200/
offers. Stevens, Burnham-on-
Sea(0278)78^504.
PET 4008. . . with manuals.
Invaders, Jailbreak, Cosmiads,
perfect cond, £395. Ring
(0792)781370.
ZX80. . . Making the Most of
your ZX80 Linsac/Bug Byte
cassettes, incompatible with
my ZX81! (blush): 01-274
3205 after 5 w/days anytime
w/ends. C Andrew, 19
Burbage Road, London SE24
9HJ.
ZX81. . . programmable charac¬
ter generator built & cased,
£35. Repeating key module,
£2.50. 3k memory expansion
£15. (these would also work on
ZX80) K Purkiss, 4 Asby Rd,
Asby, Workington, CA14 4RR.
Centronics. . . interface for PET
and Toolkit to fit old 8k PET
A mounted on separate PLB).
) Johnston, 12 Balgillo Rd,
Broughty Ferry, Dundee DD5
3LU.
IBM 3982. . . recond golfball
printer, ex cond, inc Aculab
735p parallel interface, 3 golf-
balls & spare ribbons, need dot
matrix for business, £500 ono.
Tel Steward, 0642 Si5123
(home) 243370 (work)
Microtan 65. . . built to Micron
standards, Tanex Basic in EPROM
Xbug, lower case, graphics,
PSU, in superb case Tangerine
ASCII keyboard and case, hex
keypad, manuals and many games
and tapes inc. space invaders with
sound effects, exc cond, £275
ono. Phone 0253 591805.
ZX81+16k RAM. . . Sine built,
4 books, 2 tapes of software,
executive carrying case, £140
ono. Also Videomaster Starchess
TV game, hardly used, £40 ono.
Contact David on 01-478 5249
after 21 Sept.
Nascom 2. . . 32k RAM. profe-
sionally built & boxed, Naspen,
Zeap assembler graphics ROM,
revas disassembler (cassette),
inc. tape recorder and games soft¬
ware £450. View in Oxford or
London. Tel Paul Hoggett,
Oxford (0865) 727375 (work).
Nascom 2. . . 32k RAM 4MHz
no waits, Nas Sys 3, Zeap 2/
EPROM, Nas-Dis Debug/tape,
Bits & PCs toolkit/EPROM
chess & space invaders, castle
int. port probe, 3 D/N vero
rack & case, fan, etc, £690 ono.
Tel (0983) 402549.
HP67. . . programmable with
maths and games packs, spare
battery pack etc, original cost
over £300 £i50 or part
exchange tor micro computr.
07554 2343 office hours.
Compukit UK101. . . ready
built, cased, 8k RAM, new
Wemon monitor, also manual,
all leads, software inc sea
battle, asteroid runner, also
cassette recorder with tape
counter £220. Phone
Buckingham 3796.
ZX81. . . Sine built, inc PSU
and manual plus cassette
recorder, only £65. Phone
(0706) 226907 eve (Lancs)
Casio fx502p. . . very good
cond, manuals and extra
programs, £60 ono. Tel:
0487 812812.
Sharp PCI 211. . . with manuals
overlays cassette interface,
accept £80. Also HP29C prog
calc, coninuous memory, 99
steps, 30 memories, manuals,
accept £40. Martin Stabb, Tel
Bristol 39242h 423957w.
Video Genie 16k. . . extra keys
ample socket, hardly used, +
12” portable TV, plus a fortune
in programs, all for £275. Tel
01-904 8512, eve.
Vido Genie. . . 6 months old,
as new in orig box, manuals,
books, some programs inc space
invaders and other games, £275.
Tel: didcot 814656 after 6 or
w/ends.
PET 8k. . . old ROMs, integral
cassette, with the PET/CBM
Guide +32 progs, £350. Tel:
Dursley (Glos) 3532.
ZX81. . . Sine built, all leads
manual, adaptor, and packaging,
as new, £60 ono. Tel: Maidstone
51499 (eves)
Wanted
Nascom computer, if possible
with some expansion, anyone
want to sell for around £160?
contact David, 01-478 5249
after 21 Sept.
Superbrain (CP/M). . . programs
wanted: games /business/program¬
ming, etc, anything to assist a
newcomer to computing. 51
Burgess Rd, Bassett, Southampton
SOI 7AP.
16k RAM. . . pack for ZX81.
Tel 0795 521280 pm/w/ends.
Will pay. . . immediate cash
for a neat metal cabinet with
S100 motherboard and power
supply, Z80 CPU, RAM and
disk controller. Mr Back
Walton-on-Thames 44825, eve.
TRS80 4k LI. . . CPU. £190.
Tel: Bath (0225) 310688.
Acorn Atom. . . 12k + 12k,
inc PSU, leads & manual, soft¬
ware inc Invaders, Acornsoft
packs 1,3 &4, plus lots more
(inc books), £250 ono. Tel:
01- 431 1493 (after 6.00),
01-435 0431 (8-5)
UK101. . . Wemon monitor for
sale due to upgrading to 32x48
display, £16. Tel: Sedgley
TCL Pascal. . . programs for
CBM3032. Anyone interested
in exchanging programs/games?
Write: John Douglass, Gimenenstr
1, CH6300, Zug, Switzerland.
Wanted. . . handbook circuits
etc. for ICL 7181 VDU. Buy or
loan against deposit. Have several
for sale. Mr Adamson, Woodend,
Victoria Rd, Kingsdown, Deal,
Kent. Tel: Deal 03045 3788.
166 PCW
USER GROUPS INDEX
Once again , here is a revised listing of user groups and clubs. The next full listing will appear in March
with updates in the issues between. Send entries to: ‘USER GROUPS’, Personal Computer World,
14, RATHBONE PLACE, LONDON W1P IDE.
INTERNATIONAL
Apple Users Group Europe.
President: K Giese, Hackstucker
11, D-4320 Hattingen 15, West
Germany. Tel 02324 52240.
CP/M. IRL. Irish CP/M Users’
Group. Meets monthly in
Dublin area, membership IR
£5 pa. Newsletter: CP/M.MAG.
Contact: Doug Notley,
Gardner House, Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4, tel: 01-686411.
DENSPET: group specifically for
exchange or original programs for
MTU 200x320 dot matrix hi-res
PET add-on. Send sample of your
work or £2.50 ($2.50) & receive
sample in return plus newsletter
sub & lists of available programs.
Contact: DENSPET, Rock
House, Ballycroy, Westport,
Co Mayo, Eire.
DAInamic: European DAI per¬
sonal computer users’ club. Has
over 500 members, publishes a
bi-monthly newsletter with most
articles in English. Contact:
DAInamic, Heide 98, 3171
Westmeerbeek, Belgium.
Microcomputer Users Club:
recently established for program
writing and exchange, emphasis
on 6502/Z80 users. Contact
c/o Syntnetronics Microcom¬
puters PO Box 151, 1322 Hoevik
Norway.
KAOS — the official 6502 users’
group of Australia. Has a range of
projects within special interest
groups: hardware, software,
amateur radio, Pascal, education.
Publishes monthly newsletter.
Contact: Mr Ian Eyles, 10 Forbes
St, Essondon, Victoria, Australia
3040.
Group/380. Recently established
for information interchange on
microsystems equivalent to IBM
360/370 main frames, news¬
letter, access to a computerised
database listing relevant software.
Annual sub: $10 for individuals,
$25 for organisations. Contact:
Mokurai Cherlin, PO Box 1131,
Mount Shasta. CA96067. USA.
Ithaca Intersystems and S100
Bus Users’ Club. Formed to
‘organise the construction and
design of software and hard¬
ware based on Ithaca or other
S100 systems.’ Contact:
George Brooke, Sebastian
Baverstrasse 20c, 8000 Munich
83, W Germany.
NATIONAL
6502 User’s Club. Holds regular
meetings and welcomes new mem¬
bers. Contact: Walter Wallenbom,
21 Argyll Avenue, Luton, Beds or
Joe Manifold, 16 Bunyan Close,
Pirton, Hitchin, Herts.
9900 Users Group. Contact Chris
Cadogan Dept. Computer
Science, University of
Manchester, Manchester Ml3
9PL.
Amateur Computer Club.
National organisation with semi¬
nars, local group meetings. Bi¬
monthly newsletter ‘ACCUMU¬
LATOR’. 6800, Z-80, and 2650
libraries. Founded 1972. Fee
£4.50 SAE Jim McDonald, 1
Carlton Court, Studley Grange
Road, London, W7 2LU.
Amateur Computer Club, 2650
Library. 2650 related data and
technical assistance only. No
meetings no newsletter. Contact
Roger A Munt, 51 Beechwood
Drive, Feniscowles, Blackburn,
Lancs. BB2 5AT (0254 22341).
Apple Music Synthesis Group.
Interested in ALF, Mountain
Hardware, Alpha Syntauri and
Soundchaser systems. Contact:
Dr David Ellis 22 Lennox
Gardens, London SW1 enclosing
an SAE.
Atom User Group. Quarterly
newsletter, software library,
technical help when possible.
Some local groups. Membership
£4 pa including newsletter.
Contact Richard Meredith Sheer-
water, Yealm View Road, Newton
Ferrers, S Devon, PL18 IAN.
BASUG — British Apple Systems
User Group. Now incorporates
the UK Apple User Group,
Caters for all current and pro¬
spective Apple/ITT 2020 users.
Publishes magazine called Hard
Core, meets fornightly at Park
Street, just south of St Albans.
Contact: Martin Perry, BASUG,
PO Box 174, Watford WD2 6NF.
Commodore Pet Users Group
publishes a monthly magazine —
the official voice of Commodore.
For membership details contact
Margaret Gulliford on Slouth
74111.
Compucolor II User Group (UK).
Quarterly newsletter: Hardware
and software advice: Program
library and exchange; links with
other CCII national groups. Con¬
tact: Bill Donkin, 19 Harwood
Avenue, Bromley, Kent 01-460
2626 (eve).
CP/M Users’ Group (UK).
Annual sub £6. S/ware library,
newsletters, meetings, ‘help’
service. Contact: 11 Sun Street,
Finsbury Square, London
EC2M 2PS, tel: 01-247 0691.
EZUG: Educational ZX80/1
Users’ Group. Annual sub £2.50
(UK) £3 (rest of Europe), £6/
$12 elsewhere Bimonthly news¬
letter Large SAE for sample
newsletter (UK & Eire only).
Contact: Eric Deeson, Highgate
School Balsall Heath Rd
Highgate, Birmingham B12 9DS
FX500-P Users Association. For
Casio FX501-P & FX502-P users
to communicate with each other
and to work together. SAE to
Max Francis, 38 Grymsdyke,
Gt. Missenden, Bucks HP16
OLP.
Ithaca Audio S-100 bus UK User
Group. Contact: Dave Weaver, 16
Etive Place, Bumbernauld,
Glasgow. G67 4JE. Phone 02867
36570.
MUSE is an organisation for co¬
ordinating activity in schools and
colleges. Meetings are held
regionally and nationally. Full
details from Muse, Freepost,
Bromsgrove, Worcs B61 0JT.
National Acorn Atom User
Group. Publishes monthly pro¬
gram magazine. For free copy and
club details send large SAE
(15V 2 p) to Alan Carr 105
Fairhole Avenue, Gidea Park,
Romford, Essex.
National RML User Group c/o
RML Ltd., PO Box 75, Oxford.
National TRS-80 Users’ Group.
Activities include a computerised
bulletin board service (see ‘Net¬
work News’). Contact: Brian Pain,
National TRS-80 UG, 40A High
Street, Stony Stratford, Milton
Keynes, tel (0908) 566660
(office) 564271 (home).
National ZX80 and ZX81 Users
Club. Publishes monthly maga¬
zine Interface. For free copy and
club details send a large SAE
(15V2P) to 44-46 Earls Court
Road, London W8 6EJ.
Sharp PC-1211 Users Club for all
PC-1211/TRS-80 Pocket
Computer users. Membership of
£5 pa. includes newsletter
containing programs etc. Contact:
Johnathan Dakeyne 281 Lidgett
Lane, Leeds LSI7 6PD.
Sharp MZ-80 Users Club. Free
membership: Extensive library
and facilities. Details on meetings
& Newsletters (SAE please) from:
Paul Chappell, Computer Centre,
Yeovil College, Yeovil, Somerset.
BA21 4AE.
g tiarp MZ-80k User Group.
ontact: Joe LP Seet, 16
Elmhurst Drive, Hornchurch,
Essex RM11 1PE. Tel: 04024
42905.
Sharp MZ-80K user group (and
shortly PC3201/00 and 80B)
£3 per annum for three news
letters. Send cheque/POs tips,
articles and sales to Mr R Erdine,
271 Meadow Rd, Sheffield
S8 7UN
TI 99/4 Users Group — TIHOME
offers access to a software library
and sends out a monthly news¬
letter. Contact: P M Dicks, 157
Bishopsford Road, Morden,
Surrey.
Transducer. The club for those
interested in robotics, micro’s
and micro hardware. Send 25p to
D Stockqueler 66 Waterloo Rd,
Penylan, Cardiff for sample news¬
letter and details.
Tangerine Users Group (TUG),
16 Iddesleigh Rd, Charminstre,
Bournemouth, Dorset BH3
7JR. Tel: 0202 294393.
TRS-80 Level 1 User Group. Soft¬
ware library and quality
newsletter (write for details and
free copy). £5.00 pa. N Rushton
(LIUG), 123 Roughwood Drive,
North wood, Kirkby, Merseyside
L33 9UG.
TRS-80 Medical & Laboratory
Users Newsletter. Free quarterly
newsletter detailing interests,
programs & applications. Send
SAE & details of interests to:
Dr N Robinson, The Residency,
North wick Park Hospital, Harrow,
Middx.
UKIOI/Superboard User Group
(Computer User Aids).
Newsletter, software library and
technical service. Membership
£4.60 inc VAT per 6 months —
£5.00 overseas. Apply to
Adrian Waters, 9 Moss Lane,
Romford, Essex — Romford
64954.
UK Intel MDS Users Group.
Contact: Lewis Hard, Space
Intelligence, The Old Coach
House, Court Row, Upton
Upon Severn, Worcestershire.
WR8 0NS.
UK Pilot Users Group — SAE
for fact sheet on Pilot versions
available Common Pilot
Reference Manual £5. Contact:
Alec Wood, Wirral Grammer
School for boys. Cross Lane,
Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside
L63 8AQ.
National T158/9 Club: bi¬
monthly newsletter, program
exchange etc. Annual sun £5.50
or, if you include a program with
your cheque then it’s £3.50.
Contact: R M Murphy, Dept,
of Electronic Engineering,
University College Swansea,
S. Wales.
CP/M Users’ Group (UK). Annual
sub £5. S/ware library, newsletter,
‘help’ service. Contact: 11 Sun
St, Finsbury Sq. London EC2M
22D.
British Apple Systems User Group
For Apple II and ITT 2020 users.
Meets 1st Tues eve & 3rd Sun
afternoons monthly at The Old
School, Branch Rd, Park St, St.
Albans (on A5 about 2 miles south
of city centre). Contact: John
Sharp, Garston (09273) 75093
or David Bolton, Park Street
(0727) 72917.
Mk 14 Club. Bi-monthly magazine
called ‘Complement and Add”.
Contact: Geoff Phillips, 8 Podsford
Rd, London NW9 6HP.
Independent PET users Group
Contact: IPUG, 57 Clough Hall
Rd, Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent.
Staffs.
UK Apple Users Group, Contact
(Keen Computers) 5 The Poultry,
Nottingham. Tel: 0602 583254/
5/6.
Cosmac Users Club (proposed).
For people using the RCA 1802,
Cosmac ELF, ELFII, Super ELF
etc. Those interested contact
James Cunningham at 7 Harrow-
den Court, Harrow den Road,
Luton LU2 0SR (enclosed sae,
please).
Ohio Scientific UK User Group.
Independent of OSI, an import¬
ant role will be the disentangling
of poor documentation. There
will be regular newsletters and
membership is at present £5
per year. The group will initially
be concerned with the practical
aspects and applications of OSI
systems — rather than with
games. Contact Tom Graves at:
19a West End, Somerset, BA16
0LQ.
Compukit User Club. Details,
contact P. Crabb Esq.. 21
Jones Close, Yatton, Avon
(0934 834808).
77/68 Users Group. Quarterly
Newsletter. Free membership for
1st year if you buy the 77/68
instruction manual, £1.50 there¬
after. Contact: Newbury Compu¬
ting Store, 40 Bartholomew St,
Newbury, Berkshire.
Compukit User Club. Details
contact S H Grisvenor Esq. 11
Bernard Rd, Oldbury, Warley,
West Midlands (021-422 3298)
11s Users Group. A sort of help
service only. No meetings, no
newsletter. Contact: Pete Harris,
119 Carpenter Way, Potters Bar,
Herts. EN6 5QB. Tel: 0707
52091 or 01-248 8000 ext 7065.
ZX80/81 National Software
Association. Annual sub £6,
incs cassette of software. Bi¬
monthly newsletter, software
available on cassette. Send SAE
for details. Contact: 15 Wood¬
lands Rd, Womboume, Staffs
WV5 0JZ.
Educational Users’ Group for
TRS-80 & Video Genie. Off¬
shoot of Nat TRS-80 UG, other
TRS-80/Vid Genie users welcome.
Contact: D J Fatcher, Head
Teacher Beaconsfield First &
Middle School, Beaconsfield Rd,
Southall, Middx.
REGIONAL
Central Scotland Computer Club.
Meets the first and third
Thursdays each month in Falkirk
College of Technology, Grange¬
mouth Road. Falkirk. Secretary,
J Lyon, 78 Slamannan Rd,
Falkirk, FK1 5NF 22430.
East Anglian Computer Users’
Group. Meets: Crane Community
Centre, Telegraph Lane East,
Norwich. Contact: Gill Rijzl,
88 St Benedict’s St, Norwich
NR2 4AB, tel: (0603) 29652.
Grampian Amateur Computer
Society. Meets 2nd Monday every
month. New premises are in
Thistle Lane, Aberdeen. Contact
Alan Hird, 20 Harcourt Road,
Aberdeen, Tel: 90224) 33102.
IPUG South East. Meet 7.30 3rd
& 4th Thursday. Charles Darwin
School, Jail Lane, Biggin Hill.
Bi-monthly newsletter. Contact:
M Ryan, 164 Chesterfield Drive,
Sevenoaks. Tel: (0732) 53530.
MACC (Midlands Amateur
Computer Club) meet every
Friday evening 7.00pm
onwards. . . no sub, no magazine.
Contact: John or Roy Diamond
Tel: Coventry (0203) 454061.
Merseyside Nascom Users’ Group.
Now independent, with 150
members. Meets 1st Mon
monthly, 7.30pm at Mona Hotel,
James Street, Liverpool. Contact:
T Searle, 14 Hawkeshead Close,
Maghull, Liverpool L31 9BT.
PCW 167
PASCAL PROGRAMS
FOR SCIENTISTS
AND ENGINEERS
By Alan Miller
320 pages 120 illustrations
INSIDE BASIC GAMES
By Richard Mateosian
350 pages 120 illustrations
Price £12.70
Price £10.85
PASCAL PROGRAMS FOR SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS
This book provides an immediately usable collection of Pascal
programs for scientists and engineers. It contains over 60 of
the most frequently used algorithms along with their program
implementations in Pascal. Algorithms presented include
curve fitting, vectors, matrices, approximations, random
number generation and more.
Of major importance is the unique approach describing the
pitfalls of writing scientific programs in current
implementations of Pascal. The book provides programs to
detect these pitfalls in any particular version of Pascal and
explains general techniques for solving the problems once
discovered. Specific hints for retaining accuracy in Pascal
programs are included throughout.
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14 games) are described in detail, then completely explained
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designed and developed in BASIC. All facets of game
program design, including program structuring, cursor
positioning, randomization and other concepts are discussed.
Programs for games such as Hangman, Ten-Key Flicker and
Taxman are coded in Microsoft BASIC and versions are
provided for PET/CBM, APPLE II and TRS-80.
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168 PCW
USER GROUPS INDEX
Merseyside TRS-80/Video Genie
Users’ Group. Contact: Peter
Tootill, 101 Swanside Rd,
Liverpool L14 7NL, tel 051-220
9733.
Merseyside Microcomputer
Group. Special interest groups:
PET, Apple, 380Z, SC/MP,
Education (Mr M Trotter. 051-
652 1596). Contact: Fred
Shaw 14 Albany Avenue,
Eccleson Park Prescot, Mersey¬
side L34 2QW tel: 051-426
5436.
Kilmacud, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
Cork branch (£1 extra) — Michael
Moynihan, Colaiste an Spioraid
Naomh, Bishopstown, Cork.
Dublin branch (£1.50 extra) —
Jim Walsh, CBS Naas, Co Kildare,
Limerick branch (£1 extra) — Sr
Lourda Keane, Convent FCJ.
Laurel Hill, Limerick Waterford
brnach(£ 1 extra) — Mr Hugh
Dobbs, Newtown School, Water¬
ford. Kilkenny branch (£1 extra)
Sr Helen Lenehan, Presentation
Secondary School, Kilkenny.
Amateur Computer Club of
North Staffordshire. Call or write
to Mr M Turner (chairman)
ACCNS, 542 Lightwood Rd,
Lightwood, Stoke-on-Trent
ST3 7EH (0782) 324639 eve.
Gwent Amateur Computer Club.
Covering the Gwent and Cardiff
areas, the club has its own com¬
puter room and technical library.
Meetings are held once a week
on Wednesdays at 10 Park Place,
Newport. Contact Ian Hazell on
0633 277711 office hours.
Bedford Amateur Computer Club.
Recently started, no further
details as yet. Contact: Mr R
Bird 7a High Street, Great Barford.
Bedford MK44 3LB, tel 0234
870763.
Bournemouth Area Computer
Club. Meets monthly at the
Kinson Community Centre.
Contact: Peter Hills, 54 Runny-
mede Ave. Bournemouth, Dorset.
BH11 9SE. Tel Northbourne
TRS-80 — North West Group,
(for 6 issues). Meetings last
Wednesday monthly (not Dec)
Contact: Melvyn D. Franklin,
40 Cowlees, Westhoughton,
Bolton, BL5 3EG. Tel: 0942
812843.
380Z User Group Northern
Home Counties: inc Herts,
Cambs. Oxon. Contact: Sheridan
Williams, 35 St Julian’s Road,
St Albans, Herts AL1 2az.
6502 User’s Club (Southern
Region). Welcomes all 6502
Users — Acorn, Aim, Apple,
Atari, Atom, Kim, Microtan,
PET, SYM, Superboard, UK101
etc. Regular Newsletter. Contact:
Steve Cole, 70 Sydney Road,
Gosport, Hants.
Northwest Computer Club.
Fortnightly meetings 25p atten¬
dance tee. No subscriptions.
Contact: John Lightfoot, 135
Ashton Drive, Frodsham, Warring¬
ton, Cheshire WA6 7PU. Tel:
0928-31519.
ACC (Merseyside 380Z Users
Group). Contact: Alan Pope, Paal
Enterprise, 37 Stuart Rd, Crosby,
Liverpool L23 0QE.
Northeast PETs. Contact: Jim
Cocallis, 20 Worcester Road,
Newton Hall Estate Durham.
They meet the 2nd Monday of
each month for software tuition
and the 3rd Monday for hardware
tuition (both in addition to nor¬
mal activities). They start at 7.00
pm and meet in the PET Lab,
Newcastle Polytechnic, Ellison
Building, Newcastle upon Tyne.
A PET group is being formed on
the Sussex/Surrey border,presently
centered on Crawley & Horsham.
Aims to meet monthly & produce
a monthly newsletter. Contact:
Richard Dyer, 33 Parham Rd,
Ufield, Crawley RH11 0ET.
Southern Users of PETs Associa¬
tion, free membership, meet first
Wed. each month. £1.50 for
monthly newsletter. Contact 42
Compton Road, Brighton BN1
5AN.
North-East RML 380Z Users’
Group. Meets monthly at Micro-
Electronics Education Centre,
The Polytechnic, Newcastle
upon Tyne. Contact: M Hatfield
or R Reed, Computer Unit,
Northumberland Building, The
Polytechnic, Newcastle-upon-
Tyne NE1 8ST. Tel: 26002 ext.
268 office hours.
Manchester Computer Club (for¬
merly the Amateur Computer
Club (Northwest Group)). Meets
1st & 3rd Thursdays monthly at
St Peter’s Chaplaincy Precinct
Centre, Oxford Rd, Manchester.
Contact: David Wade 28 Hazel
Rd, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14
1JL, tel 061-941 2486.
Anglia Computer User Group.
Contact Jan Rejzl 128 Temple-
mere, Sprowston Rd, Norwich
NR3 4EQ.
Pennine & District Computer Club.
Open at both 26 and 51 Mill Hey,
Haworth, W. Yorks, each Sat &
Sun 10am to 10pm. Systems
books, magazines, members shop.
Contact: club at w/ends on
Haworth 43007 or chairman,
Douglas Bryant, on Bradford
569660.
Computer Education Soceity of
Ireland. A voluntary organisation
that consists of a national body
and an expanding number of local
bmches. Their brief is to monitor
compute* education in Ireland.
National CESI (£3pa) — Dairmuid
McCarthy, 7 St Kevin’s Pk,
Surrey Microprocessor Society.
(SUMPS) Covering Surrey plus bits
of South London and other adjac¬
ent counties. Anyone interested in
joining, call Mike on 01-642 8362
Wirral Microcomputer Users’
Group. Meets at Mons at
Birkenhead Technical College.
Contact: J Phillips, 14 Helton
Close, Nocturum, Birkenhead,
Merseyside L43 9HP. Tel 051-652
0268.
COUNTY
Cornish Radio Amateur Club —
Computer section meets on the
second Monday of every month
at the SWEB Social clubroom.
Pool, Redruth. New members
welcome — contact Bob Reason,
24 Mitchell Road, Camborne,
Conwall TR14 7Jk.
South East Essex Computer
Society, holds monthly informal
computer evenings plus lectures.
Open to anyone over 14. Contact
R Knight at Southend-on-Sea
218456.
N Herts area CBM/PET/VIC
users’ group. Regular meetings,
talks, affiliated to IPUG. Contact:
P Mortiboy 2 Spurr’s Close,
Hitchin, Herts SG4 90E, tel:
Hitchin (0462) 54435.
North Kent Amateur Computer
Club. Meetings first Thursday of
each month, usually in Biggin
Hill. New members and visitors
always welcome. Contact Barry
Biddles (sec). Biggin Hill 71742.
PET Users’ in West Lancs,
Meetings on the third Thursday
of each month at Arnold School,
Blackpool. Contact: David W
Jowett, 197 Victoria Road East,
Thornton. Blackpool. FY5 3ST.
Tel: Cleveleys 869108.
LPRINT is the newsletter of the
East Midlands TRS-80/VG User
Group. For a FREE sample copy
send large SAE to: Mike Costello,
17 Langbank Avenue, Rise Park,
Nottingham. NG5 5BH.
ACC (Merseyside 380Z and BBC
Atom Users Group) Contact:
Alan Pope, Paal Enterprise, 37
Stuart Road, Crosby, Liverpool
L23 0QE.
Manchester area TRS-80 Users’
Group Contact: Francis Glenister,
13 Pridmouth Road, Withington,
Manchester M20 9GN, tel: 061-
445 7191.
West Midlands Amateur CC. meet
2nd & 4th Tuesdays each month
at Elmfield School, Love Lane,
Stourbridge. Further details John
Tracey, 100 Booth Close, Brierley
Hill, West Mid. 0384 70097.
West Midlands RML User Group,
c/o BECC, The Bordesley Centre,
Camp Hill, Stratford Road,
Birmingham Bll 1AR.
South Yorkshire Personal
Computing Group. Meets 7;30,
second Wednesday each month.
St George’s Building, Mappin
Street, Sheffield. Visitors always
welcome. Contact: Paul
Sanderson, 8 Vernon Road,
Totley, Sheffield. Tel: 0742
35189&.
Thames Valley Amateur
Computer Club. Meetings 1st
Tues monthly. From November
on at the Southcote, Southcote
Lane off the Bath Rd, Reading,
Berks. Start 7.00pm. Contact
Brian Quarm (Camberley 22186)
or Brian Steer (Slough 20034)
Would anyone interested in set¬
ting up an Apple Users Group in
the Bucks/Berks area contact:
Steve Proffitt, tel 01-759 5511
ext 7298 day, or Marlow 73074
eve or w/ends.
The Leicestershire Personal
Computer Club. Meetings held the
2nd Monday in each month, at
Leicester University and Lough¬
borough University alternately.
They start 7pm. Membership is
£2 per annum £1 for under
16s). Contact Ms Jill Olorensliaw
(Club Secretary) c/o Arden Data
Processing, Minicipal Buildings,
Chrles Street, Leicester (0533
22255) OR Mr Dick Foden (club
chairman) at 11 Gaddesby Lane,
Rearsby, Leicester.
Lincolnshire Microprocessor
Society. Various meeting places.
For up-to-date information con¬
tact: Hon Sec. Mr Eric Booth,
Senior Common Room, Bishop
Grosseteste College, Newport,
Lincoln.
MACRO (Medway Amateur Com¬
puter & Robotics Organisation).
Meets monthly, sub £3. Contact:
Ms Christine Webster, 13 Lady-
wood Rd, Cuxton, Rochester,
Kent. Tel: 0634 78517.
Merseyside Microcomputer Group.
Several sub-groups including:
380Z Users Group (Alan Pope on
051-924 2470): Computer Edu¬
cation Society (Mr M Trotter on
051-652 1596): SC/MP Special
Interest Group (Bob Perrigo on
051-677 6716): PET Special
Interest Group: 6800 and 77/68
Special Interest Group: Apple
Special Interest Group: The
secretary is John Stout of the
Dept, of Architecture, Liverpool
Polytechnic, 53 Victoria St,
Liverpool LI 6EY (051-416
5536).
NE RML 380Z Users Group.
Meets monthly at MEC,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Poly¬
technic, Coach Lane Campus.
Contact: M Hatfield or R
Reed, tel: 26002 ext 268
(office hours)
North Lancs User Group. Contact
John Robinson, 12 Harold Ave.,
Blackpool, Lancashire.
Oxford Microcomputer Club.
£5.00 pa. Contact: S C Bird,
139 The Moors, Kidlington.
Oxford OX5 2AF. Tel: Kidling¬
ton (08675) 6703.
Anyone interested in forming a
Suffolk Computer Users’ Club
should contact Ian on Ipswich
831353 eve/w/ends.
South Shropshire: Ludlow &
Dist Microcomputer Club. Meets
7.30 2nd Monday monthly at
Diocesan Education Centre,
Lower Galdeford, Ludlow.
Contact: David Pauli. 32 High
St. Leintwardine, Craven Arms,
Shropshire, tel: 05473 287.
Suffolk Microcomputer Club.
Meets monthly, produces news¬
letter, sub £5 pa. Contact: Mr S
Pratt, c/o Microtek, 15 Lower
Brook St, Ipswich, Suffolk
IP4 1AQ tel: 0473 50152.
West Yorkshire Microcomputer
Group. Formed following an
inaugural meeting on Oct 23rd,
a varied diary of events has been
drawn up. For details contact
the Chairman, Philip Clark, Care
Computers Services, 15 Welling¬
ton St. Leeds LSI 4DL (0532
450667) OR the Secretary. Keith
Knaggs, Price Waterhouse & Co.,
Leeds (0532 448741).
6547.
Brunei Computer Club: meets
alternate Wednesdays, 1900-
2200 hrs at St Werburgh’s Com¬
munity Centre, Contact: Mr
R Sampson, 4 The Coots,
Stockwood.
Bristol Computing Club. £4.00
pa. Meetings 3rd Wednesday
monthly. Contact: Leo Wallis,
6 Kilbirnie Road, Bristol. BS14
0HY. Tel Bristol 832453
Cambridge Microcomputer Club.
Meets 3rd Wednesday monthly
at Portland Arms, Cambridge.
Contact: Duncan Mackay, 4
High Street, Waterbeach, tel:
63137 (day).
g heltenham Amateur Computer
lub. Meetings 4th Wednesday
monthly. 7.30pm start. Contact:
Mr M Pullin, 45 Merestone Drive,
the Park, Cheltenham, GL50
2SU (Cheltenham 25^17).
Derby & District Branch of IPUG
meets monthly in Derby. For
details contact Raymond Davies,
105 Normanton Road, Derby
DEI 2GG. Tel (day) 41025 (eve)
514016.
Derby Microcomputer Society.
Meets fortnightly at Derby
Lonsdale College, Uttoxeter
Road, Derby. Contact: Mike
Riordan, 172 Blagreaves Lane,
Littleover, Derby Tel (0332)
769440.
Exeter and District Amateur
Computer Club. General meetings
2nd Tuesday monthly, specialist
meetings 3rd or 4th Tuesday.
£7.50 adults pa. Contact: Doug
Bates, 2 Station Road, Pinhoe,
Exeter, EX1 3SA.
Grimsby Computer Club. Meets
fomightly on Mondays at 7.30
pm. Contact: Jenson Lee, 29 Park
View, Cleethorpes. Tel: 32559.
Harpenden Microcomputer Group
— Informal meetings are held on
alternative Monday evenings.
Contact: David James, 5 Ox Lane,
Harpenden, Herts. AL5 4HH. Tel:
(05827) 5366 (eve).
Harrow Computer Group meets
on alternate Wednesdays at 7pm
in room G43 of Harrow College
of Higher Education. Summer
meetings in the ‘Plough’, Kenton,
Contact B Butcher, 01-9 50 7068.
Hartlepool, Cleveland. Is
anyone interested in starting
a TRS-80 users group in this
area? If so, please contact
Ian Nicholson, 3 Thirsk Grove,
Hartlepool, Cleveland TS25
1LT.
IOW TRS-80 Users Club: Meets
last Friday in every month at
7.30pm at the London Hotel,
Ryde: Contact Mr M Collins, 11
Star Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight.
Ryde 614589.
Leeds Microcomputer Users
Group. Meets fortnightly on
Thurs eve in Leeds, new mem¬
bers welcome. Contact: Paul
O’Higgins, 20 Brudenell Mt,
Leeds 6, tel (0532) 742347
after 6.
The SOBAT Computer Club
(Leyton). Meets in first week of
each month at 12 Calderon Road,
London Ell 4EU. Anyone (inc
beginners) is welcome. Member¬
ship fee only £1 pa. inc
newsletter. Specialised informa¬
tion, and access to several
different kinds of micro¬
computers. Contact Mr T Kayani:
01-556 5423 eve.
PCW 169
East London Computer Club.
Meets every Friday at 7.30 in
term at North East London
Polytechnic, Romford Rd
Precinct, Stratford El5. Contact
John Grieve, 01-553 4761.
North London Hobby Computer
Club. Workshops four evenings a
week during term time. General
meetings open to all last Wedens-
day of each month. Contact
Secretary DELE, Polytechnic of
North London, Holloway Road,
London N7 8 DB. Communica¬
tions Group — interfacing
personal computers with Prestel/
teletext and Networks like PC
Net and The Source. Every
Thursday 6.30 — 9, Room 2/5,
Tower Block, Holloway Road.
ZX81 User Group every Monday
during term-time 6 - 9 pm. Room
3/4. Tower Block, Holloway
Road.
Oxford University Microcomputer
Society. Meets weekly in Claren¬
don laboratory, Oxford visiting
speakers, micros available for
programming. Contact: Richard
Ash, Christchurch, Oxford.
South Oxford Computer Club.
Covers Wantage. Abingdon,
Didcot, Wallingford and New¬
bury. Meets 1st Tues monthly
at The Star, East llsley. Contacts:
Mike 0235 834402; Malcolm,
0235 816949; Paul, 0235
815305; Rocky, 0635 34456.
SELMIC (South East London
Microcomputer Club). Meets
fortnightly at Thames Polytech¬
nic Woolwich. Contact: Peter
Phillipps, 61 Craigerne Road,
London SE3. Tel: 01-853 5829.
Manchester Computer Club.
Meetings 1st and 3rd Thursday
monthly in the Computer Science
Building Manchester University,
Oxford Road. Contact D Wade,
28 Hazel Road, Altrincham,
Cheshire, WA14 1JL. Tel: 061-
941 2486.
Medway Atom Users’ Group.
Meets last Tues monthly during
school terms at St John Fisher
School, Ordnance St, Chatham.
Contact: Clem Rutter, (0634)
42811 (day).
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Personal
Computer Society: meets first
Tues each month in Room D103,
Newcastle Polythechnic.Over
60 members sub £5.00. Several
sub-groups inc. PET, TRS-80 and
S100 (Last one meets weekly).
Contact Pete Scargill, Secretary
on 0632 573905.
Orpington ZX80/81 Computer
Club. Meeting each Friday.
Contact: R A Pyatt, 23 Arundel
Drive, Orpington, Kent BR 6
9JF. Tel: 66 20281.
Plymouth and District Amateur
Computing Club. Subscription
<£5.00 pa. Meetings last Wednes¬
day monthly. Contact: Mr S A
Bell, Secretary, Plymouth and
District Amateur Computing
Club, 31 Victoria Place, Stoke,
Plymouth, Devon.
USER GROUPS INDEX
Southampton Amateur Compu¬
ter Club. Meets 2nd Wed monthly.
Medical Sciences Building,
Bassett Crescent East, Southamp¬
ton (alternative venue Aug &
Sept). Contact: P Blitz,
‘Gardenways’, Chilworth Towers,
Chilworth, Southampton, tel:
0703 766161.
Would anyone interested in
forming a computer club in the
Portsmouth area please contact
Dave Cocker on Portmouth
751156.
Sunbury Computer Club, meets
last Tuesday each month. 40p/
meeting £4pa (under I 8 V 2 price)
enquire to: S N Taylor, 8 Priory
Close, Sunbury-on-Thames
TW16 5AB.
Local IPUG Group meet other
PET users and make friends.
Contact G Squibb initially. 108
Teddington Pk Rd, Teddington,
Middx.
Would anyone interested in join¬
ing an informal Computer Club in
the Tonbridge or Tunbridge
Wells area please contact either
Chris Wall work (Tunbridge
Wells 37682) or Ray Szatkowslri
(Tonbridge 355960).
Worle Computer Club: meets
alternate Mondays 1900-22.30
at Woodsprings Inn Function
Rooms Contact: S Rabone, 18
Castle Rd, Worle, Weston-Super-
Mare, Avon, tel: 0934 513068.
Worcester & District Computer
Club. Meets 2nd Monday monthly
at 8 pm Old Pheasant Inn New
Street, Worcester. Contact: D
Stanton, 55 Vauxhall St,
Rainbow Hill, Worcester. WR3
8 PA.
York Computer Club. Meetings
8 pm Mondays at Holgate WMC
New Lane, Acomb, York. Further
info K Thomas, York 38239.
Croydon micro/small computer
f roup. Contact Vernon Gifford
11 Selhurst Road, London SE25
6 LH.
East London Amateur Computer
Club. Meets 7—10pm on 2nd &
4th Tuesdays monthly at Harrow
Green Library Leytonstone,
London Ell. Contact: Fred
Linger, 01-554 3288.
Richmond Computer Club.
Meets 8.00 2nd Monday monthly,
Richmond Community Centre.
Contact: Bob Forster, 01-892
1873 (eve).
TRS-80 Independent User Group.
Recently formed in Birmingham.
Contact Mike Bayliss, 021-743
7197.
Anybody interested in forming a
microcomputer users club in
the Towcestei (S. Northants)
area please contact R J Wellsted,
20 Hampton Court Close, Abbey
Chase, Towcester, Tel:
Towcester 51354 eves.
Ashfield Computer Club. Meets
1st & 3rd Thurs each month at
Carsic Junior School member¬
ship £3 pa. Contact Deric Ellerby.
tel 0380 75376 or Derrick Daines
tel 0380 56198
Anyone interested in forming a
micro group in the Doncaster
area, contact Mr P Flinders, tel
Doncaster 78954 or Doncaster
868 379, 6 —9pm.
SALISBURY. Is anyone
interested in forming a
microprocessor and computer
society in this area? SAE to
David Bone Flat 2, 24 St
Mark’s Rd, Salisbury, Wilts.
Shipley College Computer Group
(Sorcerer/6800). They meet
Tuesdays (software) and
Wednesdays (hardware/advanced)
between 7.00 & 9.00 pm. Contact
Paul Channell on Shipley 595731.
Microsoc the Oxford University
micro group holds shared
meetings with the Oxford
Microcomputer Club. Contact:
M. Bourla, St. John’s College,
Oxford.
Scunthorpe & Dist Microproces¬
sor Society. Contact: G Hinch,
21 Old Crosby, Scunthorpe,
S Humberside DN15 8 PU.
Sunbury Amateur Computer
Club. Meets 1st Friday monthly
whenever possible, 20 p per meet¬
ing. Contact: S Taylor, 8 Priory
Close, Sunbury-on-Thames TW16
5AB, tel Sunbury 86649.
Manchester Atom Users’ Group.
Meets last Tues monthly during
school terms at Abraham Moss
Centre, Crescent Rd, Manchester
8 . Contact: John Ashurst, 061-
370 5121 ext 27 (day), 061-
681 4962 (eves).
Anybody in the Warrington area
interested in forming a Mattel
Intellivlsion TV Game group to
organise meetings, competitions
and lay foundations for the
forthcoming computer addition?
Tel Warrington 62215 after 4 pm.
BAUD (Bristol Apple Users and
Dabblers). Contact: Geoff
Smythe, Datalink Microcomputer
Systrtns Ltd, 10 Waring House,
Redcliffe Hill. Bristol BS1 6 TB,
tel (0272) 21^427.
Brunei Technical College
Computing Club. The club divides
into two sections. . . the “skilled”
and the “not skilled”. They share
alternate Wednesdays at the
College. Contact: S.W. Rabona at
18 Castle Road, Worle, Weston-
Super-Mare, Avon, BS22 9JW
(0934 513068).
Anyone interested in forming a
computer club in Cornwall
catering mainly for PET, Zx80
and UK 101 computers should
contact: M F Grove, 35 Causeway
Head, Penzance, Cor/iwall.
Peterborough Computer Club.
Recently formed, eets on first
and third Mondays each month at
Adult Education Centre, Brook
Street, Peterborough. Contact:
T Marchant, tel Peterborough
76681 after 6 weekdays, anytime
weekends.
Computer Club. Business &
Word Processor section meets
Fridays 7.30, Scientific &
Recreational Saturdays 10.00.
Contact: L. Boxell, 8 Vane
Terrace, Darlington. Tel: 0325
67766.
Southgate Coinputer Club. The
club recently neld its AGM
and adopted a formal constitu¬
tion. Annual subscription will
be £2.50 from January 1981,
including a club newsletter ;
full-time students under 18
pay half-cost. The club now has
83 members. Contact: Panos
Koumi, Southgate Computer
Club. 33 Chandos Avenue,
London N14.
West London Personal computer
Club. Meets first Tues. each
month at Wiliesden Technical
College. Also visits, special int.
groups, demos, problem surgeries.
Contact: Graham Brain, 81 Rydal
Cres, Perivale Middx, Tel:
01-997 8986
TRS80 User Club (Chelmsford).
Now part of the National TRS80
User Club. Contact: Michael
Dean, 22 Rough tons. Galley wood,
Chelmsford, Essex.
A Crawley computer club has
recently been formed, open to
anyone interested in personal
computing, with or without
computing facilities,
contact either Mr J. Fieldhouse,
18 Seaford Road, Broadfield,
Crawley, West Sussex (Crawley
542509) — or — Mr J. M.
Clarke, 31 Hyde Heath Court,
Pound Hill, Crawley, West
Sussex (Crawley 884207)
Birmingham Computer Club.
To be formed shortly, catering
for all micro users. Fortnightly
meetings planned but venue not
yet fixe*. Contact: Dr M Bayliss,
021-743 7197.
Southampton Amateur Computer
Club. Meets 8 pm 2nd Wed each
month (not July — Sept) at
Medical Science Building. Bassett
Cres. East, Southampton. £3 pa,
OAP, & students £2. Newsletter
& special int. groups; 2 yrs old,
80 members soon setting up
another club in Portsmouth area.
Contact: P G Dorey, Dept
Physiology. The University.
Southampton S09 3TU or Andy
Low, Tel: (0703) 555 605 ext 34.
Jpringneld Computer Club.
Special interest in Sorcerer but
leginners and others welcome.
Meetings 1st Friday monthly.
Contact: Stephen Cousins, 1,
Mdeburgh Way, Springfield
Chelmsford, Essex CM1 5PB.
TRS80 User Club (Chelmsford).
Now part of the National TRS80
User Club. Contact: Michael
Dean, 22 Rough tons. Galley wood,
Chelmsford', Essex.
The Colchester Microprocessor
Group. Meetings held at the
University of Essex on the second
and fourth Wednesdays of each
month — 7.30 pm start.
Membership is open to all. on
payments of £5 annual sub (£1 for
full-time students). Contact: the
Information Centre at the
University an the evening of the
meeting.
NETWORK NEWS
Here is a list of all British (and one Dutch) personal computer networks . As more networks appear —
and as more facilities are added to existing ones — we 'll report them in this section , which appears monthly.
Forum-80 Hull. . . Operator:
Frederick Brown, tel 0482
856169. Facilities: electronic
mail, software up/down
loading, Forum-80 Users*
Group, PET users’ section,
shopping list. Hours: 7
days/week, midnight-0800,
Tues & Thurs 1900-2200, Sat
& Sun 1300-2200.
Forum-80 London. . .
Operator: Leon Jay, tel 01-
286 6207. Facilities:
electronic mail, program down¬
loading. Hours: Tues, Fri, Sat
& Sun 1900-2300.
80-NET . . . Operators: Leon
Heller & Brian Pain, National
TRS-80 Users’ Group, tel 0908
566660. Facilities: electronic
mail, software for downloading,
newsletter, TRS-80 information.
Hours: 7 days/week, 1900-2200.
CBBS London. . . Operator:
Peter Goldman, tel 01-399 2136.
Facilities: electronic mail, pro¬
gram downloading. Hours: Wed
0700-0930 & 1900-2200, Fri
1900-2200, Sun 1600-2200.
Forum-80 Holland. . .
Operator: Nico Karssemeyer,
tel 010 313 512 533. Facilities
electronic mail, program up/
downloading, shopping list.
Hours: Tues-Sat 1800-0700
nightly, continuous from 1800
Sat — 0700 Tues.
170 PCW
1
DIARY DATA
1
Readers are strongly advised to check details with exhibition organisers before making travel
arrangements to avoid wasted journeys due to cancellations, printer’s errors, etc.
Friedrichshafen,
W Germany
Euro Congress for Word Proc-Intertext. Contact: Int Bodensee-Messe,
Meistershofener Str 25, 7790 Friedrichshafen.
21-25 Oct
Stuttgart,
W Germany
Hobby Electronics & Minicomputers Exbn. Contact: CES, 01-236 0911
21-25 Oct
London
(Bloomsbury Centre) Computer Graphics Exbn. Contact: Online,
09274 28211
27-29 Oct
London
(West Centre Hotel) Viewdata Exbn. Contact: IPC Exbns, 01-643 8040
4-6 Nov
Cologne (W Germany)
Business Communications Congress & Trade Fair. Contact: Int Trade Fair
Agencies 01-409 0956
4-6 Nov
Mexico city
Technology for the People Int Fair. Contact: TRTP, Casa Postale 187,
1215 Geneva, Switzerland
6-12 Nov.
Madrid, Spain
Int Office Equip & Computers Exbn. Contact: CITEMA, Plaza de conde
de valle Suchil 8, Madrid 15
13-20 Nov
London
(Olympia) Computer Peripherals & Small Computer Systems exbn &
conf.Contact: IPC exbns 01-643 8040
17-20 Nov
China (Guangzhou)
Word Processing Machinery, Equip & Technology exbn. Contact:
Industrial & Trade Fairs Ltd 021-705 6707
4-8 Dec
i i
CTUK! CENTRES
Here’s an updated list of people organising ComputerTowns. Don’t forget to enclose
an SAE if you write to your nearest ’Town for details.
Lyn Antill,
1 Defoe House,
Barbican,
London
Peter J Kiff,
52 Stone Road,
Broadstairs,
Kent CT10 1DZ
Patrick Colley,
52 Queensway.
Caversham Park Village,
Reading,
Berks RG4 OSJ
Pete Shaw,
15 St Vincent Road,
Clacton-on-Sea,
Essex C015 1NA
Vernon Gifford,
111 Selhurst Road,
Croydon,
London SE25 6LH
David Tebbutt,
7 Collins Drive,
Eastcote,
Middx HA4 9EL
John Stephen Bone,
2 Claremont Place,
Gateshead,
Tyne & Wear NE8 1TL
Mike Baker,
5 Edinburgh Road,
Hanwell,
London W7 3JY
Pete Rowan,
10 Lambton Road,
Jesmond,
Newcastle-on-Tyne NE2 4RX
Steve Haynes,
5 Guinea Street,
Kingsholm,
Gloucester GL1 3BL
Ted Broadhead,
27 Cardinal Road,
Leeds LS11 8EY
Andrew Holyer.
10 Masons Field,
Mannings Heath,
Horsham, Sussex RH13 6JP
Brigitte Gorton,
18 Purbright Crescent,
New Addington,
Croydon CRO ORT.
Steven Christian,
51 Bumstones,
West Denton,
Newcastle-on-Tyne NE5 2DF
Vernon Quaintance,
50 Beatrice Avenue,
Norbury,
London SW16 4UN
Bill Gibbings,
3 Longholme Road,
Retford,
Notts DN22 6TU
Philip Joy,
130 Rush Green Road,
Romford,
Essex.
Richard Powell,
22 Downham Court,
South Shields,
Tyne & Wear
Derrick Daines,
18 Cuttings Avenue,
Sutton in Ash field,
Notts
Keith Taylor,
Carter Hydraulic Works,
Thornbury,
Bradford BD3 8HG
Alan S Waring,
50 Drayton Gardens,
Winchmore Hill,
London N21 2NS
Alan Northcott,
Rushmoor,
464 Reading Road,
Winnersh,
Wokingham,
Berks RG11 5ET
Alan Sutcliffe,
4 Binfield Road,
Wokingham,
Berks RG11 1SL
Tony Cartmell,
54 Foregate Street,
Worcester WR1 1DX
Tom Graves,
19a West End,
Street,
Somerset BA16 0LQ
THE
WAR MACHINE
The magazine of microcomputer wargaming
and fantasy science fiction gaming
Before spending money on expensive games software, would you
like to read our independent reviews of the new, demanding games and
simulations that are now coming onto the market *
Send |ust fl for the latest issue of The War Machine, packed with
reviews of the latest games for all popular brands of micro, news of
developments in this texciting area, and hints on improving your own
games programs Cheques or P 0 s payable to M W Costello. 17“
Langbank Avenue. R.se Park, Nottingham NG5 5BU
OHIO COMPUTERS
SUPER BOARDS FROM £135 + VAT C2s,
C3s, and spare boards.
BOOKS:
NEW User Manuals - full of information re
Superboard III/CIP/C4P/C8P. (state which)
SAMS SERVICING MANUALS
Superboard III/C1P/C4P/C8P/C3. (state
which)
VIP Book - Programs.for Superboard/C 1P/
C4P.
WORKBOOK - Superboard III/C1P/C4P
FIRST and SECOND Books of OSI
65V PRIMER - machine code manual.
SETTING UP PROFESSIONAL
COMPUTERS, BASIC Books etc.
CPM COMPUTERS
System 10 twin disk integral VDU 64K
PERIPHERALS
Printers, VDUs, Floppy Disks etc.
ALL FROM:
CT S
31/33 Church Street
Littleborough
Lancs OLI5 8DA
Tel: (0706) 74342/79332
TRS-80 MODEL I
ENHANCED VIDEO
TANDY COMPATIBILITY mode (default)
gives lower case without the need for switches.
FULL MODE gives the FULL CHARACTER
SET in POSITIVE and INVERTED VIDEO
and all graphics characters.
WHOLE SCREEN INVERSION including
borders is independently controllable.
Double width capability is not affected. Mode
selection by port FE. Fits inside the keyboard
case.
Technical manual with software oatches £6
Assembled and tested PCB, 2102 chip £23
Parts and manual ordered together £26.45
The above prices include worldwide postage
and United Kingdom VAT. Dealer discounts.
Installation available, please enquire.
RHA (MINISYSTEMS) LTD., 83 GIDLEY
WAY, HORSPATH, OXFORD OX9 1TQ.
Tel. 08677-3625
PCW 171
MICROMART
BUSINESS & COMPUTER
SERVICES
292 Caledonian Rd, London N1 1BA
Tel: 01-607 0157 (24-hour Answer¬
ing Service)_
We are
Micro-computer Consultants
& Programmers
- and specialise in industrial
& commercial programs written to clients'
specifications.
VAT & Post incl.
Cash Analyser £20.00
Vehicle Cost Analyser £25.00
Book Keeping (min 48k & 2 drives)
£150.00
Please ask us for fuller details of the
above. All are disk based for the TRS-80
Model I or III. Please state your DOS
when ordering. Apple II versions soon.
ZX81
CASSETTE ONE
* REACT
(m/c)
* INVADERS
(m/c)
* PHANTOM ALIENS
(m/c)
* MAZE OF DEATH
(m/c)
* PLANET LANDER
(m/c)
* BUG SPLAT
(m/c)
* BOUNCING LETTERS
(m/c)
* 1 CHING
(basic)
* MASTERMIND
(basic)
* BASIC HANGMAN
(basic)
* ROBOTS
(basic)
PROG OF THE MONTH
PHANTOM ALIENS
A very weird version of invaders. The
phantom aliens move at different speeds,
setting up strange defensive patterns, some
disappearing and suddenly reappearing.
Genuine pixel graphics for continuous
movement. Continuous display of score.
All for 1 K RAM, all on CASSETTE ONE
(sent first class) for £3.80 from:
Michael Orwin
26 BROWNLOW ROAD
WILLESDEN LONDON
NW10 9QL
(Quality programs wanted, please send sae
for details)
PET MACHINE LANGUAGE GUIDE
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OR ARE
ALREADY INTO MACHINE LANGUAGE
PROGRAMMING ON THE PET, THEN
THIS INVALUABLE GUIDE IS FOR YOU.
MORE THAN 30 OF THE PET'S BUILT-IN
ROUTINES ARE FULLY DETAILED SO
THAT THE READER CAN IMMEDIATE¬
LY PUT THEM TO GOOD USE. £8.00
THE BRAIN SURGEON (Apple)
This Diagnostic’s package is designed to check
every major area of your computer, detect errors
and report any malfunctions. The Brain Surgeon
will put your system through exhaustive, thorough
procedures testing and reporting all findings. £30.00
RS232 Serial Interface. £50.00
Apple Serial I/O. £45.00
PET TV Interface £35.00
PET Soundbox. £22.50
Disk Head Cleaning Kit £17.50
PET IEEE/Parallei Interface (addressable). £80.00
4-channel A/D Converter. £45.00
8-channel programmable Relay Switching Unit
£45.00
UART & BAUDRATE Generator £50.00
(converts parallel to serial and serial to parallel)
Apple Action Adventure Games
RED BARRON £14.95 BATTLE OF MIDWAY
SUB ATTACK £14.95 £14.95
Mail order welcome. Please send for catalogue.
PEDRO COMPUTER SERVICES
65 Glebe Crescent
Kenton, Middx. HA3 9LB
Tel. 01-204 9351
PCW
SUBSET
Alan Tootill presents more useful assembler — language subroutines.
If you’d like to contribute your routines (for any of the
popular processors), send them to:
Sub Set, PCW, 14 Rathbone Place, LondonWIP IDE.
Extra 6500
instructions
Many general-purpose routines are writ¬
ten to meet a need for instructions not
provided in a processor’s instruction
set. ROTREX, our first Datasheet this
month, from Dave Barrow of Hems-
worth, offers no fewer than seven extra
instructions to the 6502. Just think how
many other useful instructions could
be added to the 6502 and other popular
processors! Then do it, and send the
results to ‘Sub Set’.
Datasheet
ROTREX — 6502 register rotate, transfer and exchange package.
CLASS: 1
TIME CRITICAL?: No
DESCRIPTION: TXY transfers index X to index Y.
EXAY exchanges the accumulator and index Y.
RRAXY rotates to the right the accumulator,
index X and index Y.
TYX transfers index Y to index X.
EXAX exchanges the accumulator and index X.
RLAXY rotates to the left the accumulator, index
X and index Y.
EXXY exchanges index X and index Y.
ACTION: TXY Y X or
EXAY A +-> Y or
RRAXY ^ A -> X -> Y- 1 or
TYX X Y or
EXAX A <—» X or
RLAXY A<-X^Y* J or
EXXY X <—* Y
SUBr DEPENDENCE: None
INTERFACES: None
INPUT: None. A CALL is made to TXY, EXAY, RRAXY, TYX,
EXAX, RLAXY or EXXY depending on the action required
OUTPUT: As shown in ACTION plus normal N and Z flag informat¬
ion output for transfers. P is unaltered by rotates and
exchanges.
REGs USED: YP or AY or AXY or XP or AX or AXY or XY
STACK USE: 4 in all cases
LENGTH: 56
TIME STATES: 72 or 68 or 65 or 68 or 64 or 59 or 42
PROCESSOR: 6502
ROTREX EQU SO 100 ; for normal page one stack base.
TXY TAY ; Y «- A,A <- X, then A *—* Y. A8
FAST
FOURIER
TRANSFORM
for the PET and APPLE
A fast and accurate machine code
implementation interfacing to BASIC
and Pascal. £125
Details:
STRUCTURED SOFTWARE
23 Redcar Drive,
Eastham, Wirral,
Merseyside. L62 8HE
Please specify PET BASIC,
Apple BASIC or Apple Pascal. _
with RD 8100 series Input/Output Modules.
Professionally designed units for use with ZX81 —
with or without 16k RAM and Printer.
Call using BASIC or Machine Code routines.
•LOGIC OUTPUTS - switch lights, relays, etc.
*LOGIC INPUTS — realtime program branching
•ANALOGUE VOLTAGE I/O — datalogging, control
plus LIGHT PEN, REALTIME CLOCK and others.
j_OW Individual modules & Motherboard
COST Send SAE for full details
R.E. Dickens (Dept W) 5 Kennedy Road, Dane End,
Ware, Herts. SG12 0LU
(Mail Order Only)
172 PCW
TXA
8A
EXAY
PHP
08
SEC
for XYAP restore.
38
.BYTE
$2C
starts dummy instruction
2C
RRAXY
PHP
(BIT $1808) to skip next
2 bytes
08
CLC
for YXAP restore.
18
PHA
put A A X on stack & Y
into A.
48
PHA
48
TXA
8A
PHA
48
TYA
98
CLV
B8
BVC
REPAST
50 0C
TYX
TAX
X A,A Y, then A <->X.
AA
TYA
98
EXAX
PHP
08
CLC
for YXAP restore.
18
.BYTE $2C
starts dummy instruction
2C
RLAXY
PHP
(BIT $3808) to skip
next 2 bytes
08
SEC
for XYAP restore.
38
PHA
48
PHA
48
TYA
98
PHA
48
TXA
8A
REPAST
TSX
make X index stack and pointBA
INX
to first A pushed.
E8
INX
E8
INX
E8
STA
ROTREX,X
replace stacked A by X or Y.
9D00 01
BCC
YXAPO
jump if RRAXY or EXAX.
90 0D
XYAPO
PLA
restore X Y A P with
68
XYAP1
TAX
X getting X or Y,
AA
XYAP2
PLA
68
XYAP3
TAY
Y getting A,
A8
PLA
A getting what X didn’t.
68
PLP
28
RTS
60
EXXY
PHP
put P A Y X on stack and
08
PHA
restore YXAP.
48
TYA
98
PHA
48
TXA
8A
PHA
48
YXAPO
PLA
restore YXAP
68
YXAP1
TAY
A8
YXAP2
PLA
X gets Y if EXXY
68
YXAP3
TAX
X gets A if PR AXY or EXAX.
AA
PLA
68
PLP
28
RTS
60
Byte-misers treat
Take a good look at the fifth byte of
the ROTREX package. Here the pro¬
gram wants to jump over the next two
bytes and, since the carry has just been
set anyway, could BCS +2 (BO 02). But
that takes two bytes of code, so the
single byte 2C is used instead. This, with
the next two bytes, forms the BIT
$1808 instruction, which can alter the
N, Z and Y flags of P without affecting
the routine. The same byte-saving
trick is used again at the 20th byte.
There are other byte-saving tech¬
niques possible with other processors.
Send in any you can think of to Sub Set
and we will put them all together.
Using Rotrex
Other useful 6502 ‘instructions’ can
be built up from the elementary func¬
tions in ROTREX. Dave Barrow sent
MICROMART
Great products
from Mutek
Tiny PILOT
Mutek's Tiny PILOT (MTP) is a
small-scale yet comprehensive
implementation of the PILOT
text-oriented programming language
for OSI and UK101 computers.
Commands are: R: remark; T: type text
(or graphics character); ?: accept name; A:
accept answer (numeric or alphanumeric) ;
M: match (full range of comparisons); J:
jump to label; U: use subroutine at label;
E: end subroutine; C: compute (26
single-character variables); I: input
numeric value to variable; P: produce
random number; S: stop (end program)
Numeric functions are performed in
16-bit unsigned form, giving a range
0-65535. A full line-editor is included
in the package.
Note: MTP uses CEGMON facilities
extensively and will not operate with
non-standard monitors such as WEMON or
MONUK02. MTP is available as a package
with the relevant version of CEGMON at a
special reduced price. This gives you the
special facilities of CEGMON as well as the
best use of MTP.
The EPROM package is available
ex-stock, and comes complete with
fitting instructions, manual and
reference card.
PILOT package £17.50 +VAT
PILOT/CEGMON
package £29.50+VAT
StarLink
Communications package
A complete comms. package for OSI
systems, including:
'Smart terminal' mode for link to external
mainframe, mini or micro;
half-duplex/full-duplex operation ;
transmit/receive prepared text or files
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file' handling for transfer of programs/data
between external computer, disk or ROM
BASIC; full editing; and many other
features
Available in EPROM in two versions:
StarLink I for disk or ROM BASIC
systems, and StarLink II for non-disk
operation of Superboard Series II.
Specify type required when ordering!
ZX8116K
SOFTWARE
CHESS ADVENTURE
OTHELLO
AND MORE
Send SAE for details
ABERSOFT
7 Maes Afallen, Bow St. Dyfed.
Starlink (either version) C17.50+VAT
Coming shortly
Modem (acoustic coupler) for use
with StarLink — c.£50 or less
High res (256x256) graphics for
Superboard/Cl — bare board +
instructions, software c.£35,
ready-built c.£110
FigFORTH (full Forth Interest Group
implementation) in ROM — c.£50,
source listing c.£15
\/tl ITCI/ Quarry Hill, Box, Wilts
/VIU I LlV Tel: Bath (0225) 743289
^J
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CHARACTER BUILDER. Design your own
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Displays character 16 times full size and
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PROM BLOWING. 2716 with copy of your
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NEW! ASTEROIDS 81 Fast action £6
Add VAT to all prices please, but post/insurance
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on hardware, also software if not up to description.
Write for more details, more items, newsletter.
SIMPLE SOFTWARE LTD.
15 HAVELOCK ROAD
BRIGHTON SUSSEX BN1 6GL
(0273) 504879
three which, apart from the Z flag in
the 16-bit case, return the correct
status; something not done by the
PHA, go-through-A, PLA method:
1) Transfer the stack pointer to index Y:
TSY JSR
EXXY
save X in Y.
TSX
get SP
INX
past return
INX
address.
JMP
EXXY
restore X, move
SP to Y & return.
2) Increment A:
INCA JSR
EXAX
; A to X preserving X.
INX
; A + 1 not altering Cy or V.
JMP
EXAX
: restore A X & return.
3) Arithmetic shift left XY:
ASLXY JSR
RRAXY
; rotate Y into A.
ASL
A
; double it.
JSR
RRAXY
; rotate X into A.
ROL
A
double + Cy from Y.
JMP
RRAXY
; rotate to correct
: registers & return.
Now for M6800
Ron Yorston, from Reading, wanted
instructions to push the index register
onto the stack and pull it off again in
his M6800 system. These next Data¬
sheets from him, PUSHX and PULLX,
do this and affect no other registers
or flags. This means that a subroutine
may begin by saving the IX register
contents on the stack and end by pulling
them off again, but still pass results
to the calling program in the flags.
To help readers not too familiar
with the M6800 processor, I have
added detailed ACTION sections to the
documentation. These could be replaced
to show only the net effect of the
routines thus:
For PUSHX: i (IXL)
SP*-(SP)- 1
I (IXH)
SP (SP) - 1
For PULLX: SP*-(SP) + 1
t IXH
SP+-(SP)+ 1
t IXL
Datasheet
SP (SP) - 2
i (ACCA)
SP<-(SP)-1
ACCA (CC)
1(ACCA)
SP (SP) - 1
I bit 1
Memory (IXH)
Memory + 1 <- (IXL)
IX (SP) + 1
RET
ADDR
HIGH
RET
ADDR
LOW
= PUSHX — Push the IX register
/ CLASS: 2 (local RAM used fleetingly)
/ TIME CRITICAL?: No
/ DESCRIPTION: Pushes IX onto the stack without affecting other
/ registers or flags.
/ ACTION: SP->
/
;/
;/
;/
;/
;/
;/
;/
;/
;/
;/
J
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
ACCA
IX+ 2
ACCA
IX + 3
ACCA
IX+ 4
ACCA
IX+ 5
IXH —
IXL —
(IX) + 4
(ACCA)
<- (IX) + 5
«- (ACCA)
(Memory)
<- (ACCA)
(Memory) + 1
(ACCA)
(IX) + 4
(IX) + 5
‘ + 1
SP—>
IX—>
CC
+1
ACCA
+2
UNDEFINED
+3
UNDEFINED
+4
RET ADDR HIGH
^ +5
RET ADDR LOW
SP—>
IX—>
CC
ACCA
RET ADDR HIGH
RET ADDR LOW
IX HIGH
s'
nr low
SP—>
RET ADDR HIGH
RET ADDR LOW
IX HIGH
^-
IX LOW
/ SP-(SP)
/ t ACCA
/ CC - (ACCA)
/ SP <- (SP) + 1
/ t ACCA
/ SP <- (SP) + 1
/ t PCH
/ SP <- (SP) + 1
/ t PCL
/ SUBr DEPENDENCE: None
INTERFACES: Two bytes of RAM are needed fleetingly to store
the original value of the IX register. The interrupt
mask is set whilst this RAM is in use but a non¬
maskable interrupt could still affect the RAM. For
PUSHX to be considered re-entrant, any NMI service
->
IX HIGH
<-
IX LOW
ISHARPMZ80K
Special Programme Package
25 PROGRAMMES FOR £25
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TRS 80 L2
VIDEO GENIE OWNERS
COPY KITS: Make a system ‘back up’ copv of
vour own SARGON 2 or Microchess 1.5 pro¬
gram. Full step by step instructions are sup¬
plied along with the necessary utility program
on tape. Kits are £6.00 each or £10.0 for both.
Special Copy Kits produced to order : £10.00.
(program on tape must be sent).
PRINTING ^SERVICE: Program Listing. Basic
Programs f of a penny per line. £2.00 mini¬
mum charge. Machine code programs eg. Invad¬
ers £5.00. Small chess program €10.00.
Send programs with instructions to:
CLEVELAND HOME COMPUTERS,
9 HAMBLETON SQ., BILLING!! AM,
CLEVELAND TS23 2RZ.
(All business Mail Order Only CWO)
174 PCW
;/ routine should not be allowed to affect the local
;/ RAM or call PUSHX.
;/ INPUT: None
;/ OUTPUT: The contents of IX are stored on the stack and the
;/ stack pointer is decremented twice.
;/ REGs USED: None
;/ STACK USE: 4
;/ LENGTH: 35
;/ TIME STATES: 95
;/ PROCESSOR: M6800
PUSHX: DES
; make space on stack.
34
DES
34
PSH
A
; preserve ACCA
36
TPA
; and CC.
07
PSH
A
36
NOP
; to ensure SEI effected
01
SEI
; turn off interrupts
OF
STX
LRAM
; store X temporarily.
FF XX XX
TSX
; point to stack with X.
30
LDA
A 4, X
; move return
A6 04
STA
A 2,X
; address
A7 02
IDA
A 5, X
; on
A6 05
STA
A 3, X
;stack.
A7 03
LDA
A LRAM
; put
B6 XX XX
STA
A 4, X
; X register
A7 04
LDA A LRAM + 1
; on
B6 XX XX
STA
A 5, X
;stack.
A7 05
LDX
4,X
; regain A and CC.
EE 04
PUL A
•
32
TAP
•
06
PULA
>
32
RTS
j
39
Datasheet
; - PUL LX - Pull the IX register
J CLASS: 1
;/ TIME CRITICAL?: No
;/ DESCRIPTION: Pulls IX off the stack without affecting other
;/ registers or flags.
/ ACTION:
1(ACCA)
SP—>
/
SP^-(SP)-1
IX—>
CC
/
i(ACCB)
+1
ACCB
/
SP (SP) -1
+2
ACCA
/
ACCA (CC)
+3
RET ADDR HIGH
/
i (ACCA)
+4
RET ADDR LOW
/
SP <- (SP) —1
+5
IX HIGH
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
IX (SP) + 1
ACCA «- (IX) +3
ACCB (IX) +5
IX + 5 <- (ACCA)
IX+ 3*-(ACCB)
ACCA <- (IX) + 4
ACCB <- (IX) + 6
IX + 6 (ACCA)
IX + 4*- (ACCB)
IXH (IX) + 3
IXL (IX) + 4
SP«-(SP) + i
f ACCA
CC <- (ACCA)
SP<-(SP)+ i
t ACCB
SP «- (SP) + 1
t ACCA
SP «- (SP) + 3
f PCH
c +6
IX LOW
SP—>
IX—>
CC
+1
ACCB
+2
ACCA
+3
IX HIGH
+4
IX LOW
+5
RET ADDR HIGH
v +6
RET ADDR LOW
\
ZX80&ZX81
16K RAM & 1.0. BOARD
Gives 16K of RAM and 3
able 1.0. ports, complete.
x 8 bit program-
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. £55.00
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41164 .
. £ 0.85
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Apple keyboard.
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. £28.00
All including P&P
Access & Barclaycard (+6%)
Alfreda Avenue, Hullbridge 7/
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Tel Southend (0702) 230324. *
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SAF FDR DETAILS DEALER A M E NOIIIRIES WE LCOMC
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MZ-80 owners
Something for everyone
this Christmas!
CAROLS (22K)
Festive music for all. Plays any of 18
traditional carols. Words 8- music.
RHYMES (10K)
A must for the youngsters! Plays 20
favourite nursery rhymes.
MELODY (22K)
Get the party going. Guess the tune from
fragments of well-known show and film
melodies. Three levels.
Cassettes £7 each incl. postage 8 VAT.
(Convertible to MZ-80B format using
Sharp conversion tape.) Send s.a.e. for
further details.
Also available from NewBear Computing
Stores and Sharp dealers.
Maris & Tresham
Software for personal computers
19 Pytchley Way, Brixworth,
Northampton NN6 9EF.
ZX81 CHESS
A full feature program, writ¬
ten in machine code, offering
6 levels of play and a graphic
display. All legal moves,
including castling and en pas¬
sant, are recognised and you
can choose to alter the board
whenever you wish. You can
even exchange sides with your
computer during a game.
You will need a ZX81 or
ZX80 8k ROM, plus a 16k
RAM pack.
Top quality tapes used, and all
recordings verified before des¬
patch. The price of £15 is
fully inclusive of post, packing
etc. _
Send to:
A. LAWRIE (SOFTWARE)
68 BINGLEY ROAD
SUNBURY-ON-THAMES
MIDDLESEX TW16 7RB.
Strictly no callers please.
PCW 175
^cippkz
RAMCARD - 16K expansion £107.95
Z80 SOFTCARD +CP/M + M/Basic £166.90
VIDEX 80 col. board + switchplate £195.95
NEC P31 Green Screen Monitor £162.45
Epson MX80 Printer (FT1) + I/Face £391.00
Extra H/res Graphics Roms £51.00
M/Hardware Expansion Chassis £395.75
Software e.g. Visicalc 3.3 £92.15
Visitronic/Plot £118.95
Full range also by M/soft, Muse, High Tech,
MicroPro, Quality S/ware, Sensible etc.
Business Games, Utilities.
All prices plus 15% VAT. Carriage — FREE
For full details of above and other items
contact:
S-SYSTEMS
9 Goffs Close, Crawley, Sussex
Tel: Crawley 515201
MARTIAN
ADVENTURE
In 1993 the orbiting Mars probe sighted an ancient
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lander was despatched to investigate. What the
astronauts discovered represented both the greatest
benefits and the greatest perils that humanity had
ever encountered.
Martian Adventure is the most challenging 16K
Adventure yet written. Like all good games of this
type, it offers normal English commands,
responses at machine-code speed, excellent displays
and many rooms, treasures and threats. Beyond
this, it introduces new ideas such as simultaneous
control of three Agents, rather than one puppet
figure. You must co-ordinate the actions of two or
even three Agents; sometimes you may have to
decide whether to risk sacrificing an Agent in a
dangerous situation, to obtain information that
might aid the others. Special data compaction
techniques have been devised for the game,
allowing the maximum amount of information to
be crammed into 16K, and weeks of play lie ahead
before you discover the secret of the Martians.
Martian Adventure is available on tape for the
TRS-80 I/III and Video Genie, and js being
rewritten for the ZX81 and other machinef. Send a
cheque/P.O. for £12 to: M. W. Costello, 17
Langbank Avenue, Rise Park, Nottingham NG5
5BU Your order will be promptly fulfilled.
■§ ®(P¥WA(gg[:
I/Ve offer the following quality software for NASCOM
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functions and procedures with value and variable para¬
meters. The object program runs very quickly.
Price £35.00.
NASMON — A new monitor for NASCOMs. Occupies 4K
and includes a sophisticated screen editor, a 'front panel'
mode, blocked and buffered tape routines and powerful
debugging commands. Price £30.00 in EPROM
BASI12K — a 12K BASIC interpreter offering 11 digit
precision arithmetic, PRINT USING, IF. . THEN. . .
ELSE and other advanced features. Price: £25.00
NASGEN - a fast 3K assembler generating a full symbol
table and with many assembler directives and commands.
Price £15.00 on tape. £25.00 in EPROM.
NASNEM — a 2ViK disassembler which interfaces to
NASCOM s front panel to produce single step disassembly
Optionally it produces labels and o/p may be directed to
a text buffer suitable for NASGEN. Price: £10.00 on
tape. £15.00 in EPROM.
All the above software runs under NASMON except
NASPAS which can run under NASMON or NAS-SYS.
All prices are fully inclusive.
FREE: a free CHESS program with every order of
NASMON.
GEMINI DISK OWNERS: HISOFT offer a Z80 develop¬
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Floppy Disk System. Included in the package are:
- a powerful screen editor.
- a fast Z80 assembler with conditional assembly.
- a debugger based on the Front Panel on NASMON
together with a labelling Z80 disassembler. All this for the
inclusive price of: £50! Send for details NOW.
Full details may be obtained from:
HISOFT 60 HALLAM MOOR
LIDEN, SWINDON, WILTSHIRE
;/ SP<-(SP) + 1
;/ t PCL
;/ SUBr DEPENDENCE: None
;/ INTERFACES: None
;/ INPUT: None
;/ OUTPUT:The IX register is loaded from the stack and the
;/ stack pointer is incremented twice.
;/ REGs USED: None
;/ STACK USE: 3
;/ LENGTH: 30
;/ TIME STATES: 95
;/ PROCESSOR: M6800
PULLX: PSH
A
; save A B.
36
PSH
B
•
37
TPA
; save condition codes.
07
PSH
A
>
36
TSX
; point to stack with X.
30
LDA
A 3,X
; switch IX, Ret addr on stack.
A6 03
LDA
B 5,X
•
E6 05
STA
A 5,X
>
A7 05
STA
B 3,X
E7 03
LDA
A 4,X
»
A6 04
LDA
B 6,X
E6 06
STA
A 6,X
A7 06
STA
B4X
E7 04
LDX
3,X
EE 03
PULA
; restore condition codes.
32
TAP
*
06
PUL
B
; restore A B.
33
PUL
A
32
INS
; fix
31
INS
; stack
31
RTS
?
39
Z80
improvements
One of the reasons for printing your
routines is for others to try them out
and suggest improvements. In the July
issue, in the penultimate item, we gave
a few lines of code, SAY, for allowing
output messages to be set in the code at
the place where they are invoked. This
code has been criticised with some
ferocity by Andrew Bain of Welwyn
Garden City, for needlessly destroying
the contents of HL and A. He suggests:
SAY:
EX
(SP),HL
E3
PUSH
AF
F5
SLP:
LD
A,(HL)
7E
INC
HL
23
CP
”\
FE 5C
JR
Z,EXIT
28 05
CALL
OUT
CD XX XX
JR
SLP
18 F5
EXIT:
POP
AF
FI
EX
(SP),HL
E3
RET
C9
CPSTR: LD
A,(DE)
1A
INC
DE
13
CPI
ED
A1
RET
NZ
CO
RET
PO
E0
JR
CPSTR
Simon Sellick of Pershore
thought a
string length limit (in register B) of 256
bytes adequate, and
gave this:
CPSTR: LD
A,(DE)
1A
CP
(HL)
BE
RET
NZ
CO
INC
HL
23
DJNZ
CPSTR
10
F9
RET
C9
CP/M file
name
checks
This merits documenting into a Data¬
sheet, but I am running out of space
and so leave it to you.
To make the string match, CPSTR, in
the same issue, position-independent,
both David Yeomans of Halifax and
Roger Hargrave of Crawley suggest:
Simon Sellick also sent a string compare
routine, SUBP, which edits strings
according to the following rules:
1. The first byte must be an ASCII
upper-case letter.
2. Remaining bytes must be either
ASCII digits or ASCII upper-case letters.
3. Trailing spaces are added to the string
to the length specified.
This might seem to have rather
limited application, but Simon finds it
can be used to avoid CP/M’s unhappy
knack of allowing the creation of in-
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176 PCW
valid file names which cannot then be when they will. I, for one, have applied
destroyed using CP/M because the for an increase in my Barclaycard credit
name doesn’t follow the above rules, limit, just in case there is any truth in
Not all Z80 systems support CP/M (and these stories about Osborne’s computer,
disks) but the day might not be far off
Datasheet
SUBP-
CP/M File Name Check
;/
CLASS:
1
;/
TIME CRITICAL: No
;/
DESCRIPTION: Tests that a string consists of a leading upper-
;/
case ASCII letter + a number of upper-case
;/
ASCII letters or digits and fills to the specified
;/
length with trailing spaces.
;/
ACTION: See listing comments.
;/
SUBr DEPENDENCE: None
;/
INTERFACES: None
;/
INPUT:
HL points to the first byte of the string
;/
B contains the actual length of the string
;/
C contains the required string length
;/
OUTPUT:The result of the edit is in Z, C and HL.
;/
If the carry is set
;/
Then if the Z flag is set
;/
Then a character at (HL) is bad.
;/
Else B and C parameters are incompatible.
;/
Else the string at (HL) is good and space-filled.
;/
Endif
;/
REGsUSED: AF BC HL
;/
STACK USE: 2
;/
PROCESSOR: Z80
SUBP:
LD A,C
; return if
79
CP B
; actual string length
B8
RET C
; < required length
D8
PUSH HL
; save string pointer.
E5
LD A,(HL)
; get 1st byte.
7E
JR SBP2
; jump to test for ASCII u.c.
18 09
SBP1:
LD A,(HL)
; get next byte.
7E
CP ”0
; jump out as error
FE 30
JR C,SBP7
; if < 1st ASCII digit.
38 1C
CP ”:
; jump to accept
FE 3A
JR C,SBP3
; if last ASCII digit.
38 08
SBP2:
CP ”A
; jump out as error
FE 41
JR C,SBP7
; if < 1st ASCII u.c. letter.
38 14
CP ”[
; jump out as error-
FE5B
JR NC,SBP7
; if > last ASCII u.c. letter.
30 10
SBP3:
INC HL
; point to next byte.
23
DEC C
; decrement trailing space cnt
.0D
DJNZ SBP1
; & edited bytes count until 0.10 EB
INC C
*
OC
LD B,C
; pre-decrement in
41
JR SBP5
; case no spaces required.
18 03
SBP4:
LD (HL),”
; put space in next byte.
36 20
INC HL
>
23
SBP5:
DJNZ SBP4
; repeat until trailing space
10 FB
SBP6:
POP HL
; count 0. Restore pointer.
El
OR A
; reset C.
B7
RET
>
C9
SBP7:
INC SP
5
33
INC SP
; ‘loose’ saved pointer.
33
XOR A
; set Z to show bad character. AF
SCF
; set C to show error.
37
RET
C9
NASPRINT for NASCOM II
A powerful companion to your NASPEN text
processor. Features:
* Mail Merge
* Option to merge a heading onto each page
* Page numbering from 1 to 99 by single
text character
* User set margin size
* User set paper size for software form feed
after printing a N ASPEN page
* Software form feed by single text
character
* Option to stop print after each page
* User set Newline flyback time count
* Relocatable machine code program
includes a useful screen processing routine.
All this only £11.50 inclusive
Available only for NAS-SYS1 on 300 bps
cassette. Mail order only please to:—
ZENTHOR SYSTEMS LIMITED
5 CHALKPIT LANE,
OXTED, SURREY RH8 ONF.
ACORN PRODUCTS ACCESSORIES-SOFTWARE
REPAIR SERVICE AND SPARES
ECONET COMMUNICATIONS INTERFACE
Please call or write for more
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£1.00 (INC. M/C)
ATTENTION ALL PROGRAMMERS!
Send in your m/c programs to JEM
SOFTWARE, post free (listing or cassette)
for inclusion in a new publication 'THE
MACHINE CODE COLLECTION'.
Royalties of up to 50p/copy to be paid
monthly to all included. All programs to
be received by NOVEMBER 15th.
SAE FOR FURTHER DETAILS
JEM SOFTWARE
2 THE GREEN, LILBOURNE,
WARKS. CV23 0SR.
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26 ALBANY ROAD
RAYLEIGH ESSEX
Callers strictly by appointment
(0268-774089) 1pm - 8pm Mon - Sat
Dealer enquiries welcome.
FASTER ,
FASTER,
FASTER I
One way you can get your PET programs to
run faster is to use machine code in which
case you'll need a good assembler, like our
MIKRO assembler. In one 4k chip we've
packed a powerful assembler/editor and
because MIKRO source is written as BASIC
lines it's an easy way to start! Available for
3000 , 4000 or 8000 machines, just £50 plus
VAT.
Writing machine code isn't everybody's cup of
tea. You could spend £300 on a compiler, but
we think that for most purposes our new
FASTER BASIC chip is the best solution. For
just £30 plus VAT it'll speed up most Basic
programs by 50-100%, sometimes more.
If you don’t have a disk unit then much of
your time is spent waiting for programs to
LOAD, SAVE, and VERIFY. The ARROW
chip enables the standard CBM cassette deck
to load, save, verify and append at 6 to 7
times normal speed. For £30 plus VAT you
also get auto-repeat, a plot command, and a
'hexadecimal calculator' mode.
FASTER BASIC and ARROW are 2k chips
which can be located in any vacant ROM
area (as ordered). Each can also be com¬
bined in a 4k chip with one of our other
2k chips such as SUPERCHIP or PIC-CHIP
There is a 'customising' charge of £5 plus
VAT.
OUR CURRENT CATALOGUE IS
FREE TO PET OWNER S
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Dept P6, 10-14 Canning Road,
Wealdstone, Harrow, Middlesex.
Telephone: 01-861 1166
PCW 177
to Sell, Buy or Exchange
Ring us for used bargains
USED
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Ring for huge savings
EPSON
Complete stock of MX-70, MX-80 MX-100 Printers,
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Maintenance Contract or leasing if required.
We Know EPSON because we use EPSON.
£'S CALL
ACORN ATOM
In Yorkshire
Kits or Built from £120
ATOM SOFTWARE
Play against the computer.
ATOMIC CHESS £10.99
(plays different levels)
ATOMIC DRAUGHTS €4.99
(Both feature excellent graphics and play as a real
opponent would) lBothi£ 14.99
SUPERBOARD/UK101
ADD-ONS
(require soldering ability)
High Speed Cassette Interface Kit £14.99
300/2400/4800 switchable to suit recorder
Enhanced Video Display. 48 x 32 display £14.99
Kit + 48 x 32 CEGMON £36.99
Kit + 48 x 32 NEWMON £27.99
Software for all Superboard/UK 101 screen
formats.
Chess 1.9, £9.99 Draughts £4.99 Both £13 .99
N.B. All board games are fully interactive with
complete instructions and excellent graphics.
■ . ' M.J. ' ll.i.l ' Iff Tf
29 Moorcroft Park. New Mill, Huddersfield
Tel: Holmfirth (0484) 892062
Add 50p P ♦ P and 15% VAT
Callers welcome by appointment.
TRS-80 Compiler
Work-Station
Model I and III, and Video Genie
Speed up your Basic Program Development
EDIT — Full-screen BASIC editor with
floating cursor and auto repeat. 30
commands and functions let you find,
change, insert, delete, replicate, copy, or
move BASIC text at the character, string,
line, or block level. Improved program
visibility, fewer errors. £17.50
EXEC — Command-list processor. Speeds
up and simplifies repetitive procedures
such as power-up, file reorganisation.
£9.50
LEISURE LINES
J J Clessa
by
There was a very good response to the
August puzzle — about 200 entries
were received. Most of these had the
correct answer. Many had used micros
and calculators for solution but some
had found analytical methods by which
the problem could be solved. The
correct answer, to the nearest second, is
142, ie 2m 22s.
The randomly-plucked winning entry
came from Stephen Grant of Horsham
in Sussex. Nice going, Stephen! Your
prize will soon be winging its way to
sunny Sussex.
Quickie
No answer, no prizes. There is one word
on this page which is not spelt correctly
— can you find it?
Prize puzzle
An exercise in logic this month.
1. There are eight pens, A to H as
shown, and each pen contains either a
cow, a horse, a pig or a sheep.
©
©o©
ooo
©
2. At least one of each type of animal
is present.
3. At least the pig is penned between
two cow pens.
4. Every horse is penned between two
pig pens.
5. No cow is penned next to a horse.
6. There is only one sheep, and its pen
is not next to that of a pig.
7. At least two pig pens are contiguous.
Which pen is the sheep in?
Answers on postcards, please, to arrive
not later than 30 November, to:
November Prize Puzzle, Leisure Lines,
PCW, 14 Rathbone place, London W1P
IDE.
PROGRAMS
TRS- 80 Sheepdog Trial
by Simon Williams instructions are contained within
This is written in Level II Basic and the program. Note that the <A *
takes up about 8k of RAM. All the character denotes a space.
10 GDTD 200
IS MOVE SHEEPDOG
20 I-VPL(INKEYS): IF I<1 OR I>9 GOTO 20
30 DV=DX+DM(0,1-1):DW=DY+DM(1,11):DP=P+DW+DV
40 L -2: U = 2: IF DM (1 ,1 -1 ) = 0 IF DM(0,M)=-3 0 = 0 ELSE IF DM(0,I-1)=3 L=0
50 OF = 0: FOP N=L TO U: IF PEEK(DP+N) >32 PHD PEEK(DP+N)<>128 0F = 1
EO NEXT: IF OF =0 PND DV>< PND DV<6? PND DW> = 0 PND DW<1024 PRINT@DY + DX- \ h$;:
PRINT@DN+DV-2 ,D$;: DX=DV: DY=DW
99 MOVE SHEEP
100 FOR N=0 TO K: SD(N)=SGR((PBS(DX-SX(N))/3)T2 +(PBS(DY-SY<N))/64)12)
110 IF SD(N)>3 SD(N)=0: NEXT ELSE NEXT
120 IF SD(0)+SD(1)+SD(2)=0 OC+1: IF OSL PND S>0 S=?0-(C-SL)/3: RETURN ELSE
RETURN
130 IF SD(0)>SD(1) IF SD(0)>SD(2) M = 0 ELSE M=2 ELSE IF SD(1)>SD(2) M=1 ELSE M = 2
140 SX = SX(M)+ SGN(DX-SX(M)) * - 3: SY = SY(M ) + SGN(DY-SY(M))*-64: SP-P+SX+SY
150 L = -2: U-l: IF SY = SY(M) IF SX-SX(M)=-3 11=0 ELSE IF SX-SX(M)=3 L = 0
160 0F=0: FOR N=L TO U: IF PEEK(SP+N) >127 0F=1
170 NEXT: IF GF = 0 PND SX>XL PND SX<59 PND SY>63 PND SY<960 PRINT8SY(M)+SX(M)- 2,
BIS ;: PRINT§SY+SX-2,S$;: SX(M)=SX: SY(M)=SY
180 SDfM)=0: GOTO 120
198 ••• INITIPLISE
200 DEFINT P-Z: DIM DM(1,8),SD(2),SX(2),SY(2): FOR M=0 TO 1: FOR N=C TO 8: REPD
DM(M.N): NEXT N ,M
210 DP TP -3,0,3,-3,0,3,-‘3,0,3,64,E ■ ..4,0,0,0,-64,-64,-64
220 8$=".": B1$=--": S$=CHR$(1311+CHR$(175)+CHR$(143)+C 1 !75)
230 D$=CHR$(131)+CHR$(173) +CHR$(140)+CHRS(156)+CHRS(129): P=15.* : K = 0
299 •** TITLE GRAPHICS
^00 CLS:FUR M=1 TO 40: REPD X,Y,Z: FOR N = X TO Y: SET(N,Z): NEXT N,M
310 DP TP 10,25,12,10,25,1 3,58,73,12,58,73,1 3,82,97,12,82,97,1 3,106,1 1 7,12,106 ,
117,13,10,21,16,10,21,17,34,45,16,34,45,17,58,67,16,58,67,17,82,91,16,82,81,
1 7,106,1 1 7,16,106,1 1 7,1 7 ,6,21 ,20,6,21 ,21 ,58,73,20,58,73,21 ,82 ,97,20 ,82,87,21
320 DPTP 10,15,24,26,31,24,40,45,24,58,67,24,74,79,24,94,99,24,16,17,25,46,47,25
44,4 7,28,74,79,28 ,94,99,28,16,1 7,31 ,1 2,15,32,26,31,32,40 ,45,32,108,1 15,3:
330 FOP M=1 TO 30: REPD X,Y,Z: FOR N=X TO Y: SET(Z,N): SET(Z+1,N): NEXT N,M
340 DPTP 12,1 7 ,6,12,1 7,8,16,21 ,22,16,21 ,24,12,21 ,30,12,21 ,32,12,21,46,12,21 ,46,
12,21 ,54,12,21 ,56,12,21,78,12,-24 ,80,12,21,102,12,21,104,12,17,1 18,12,1 7,120
Speed up your Basic Program Execution
ACCEL2 — Compiler for Model I and III
BASIC (disk and non-disk). Execution
speed-ups of 20-30 times for integer
operations, 5-7 times for string handling,
less if I/O limited. Very easy to use.
Professionals note: Full instructions for
selling derived code on tape or disk. No
royalties! Ask for more details. £39.95
TSAVE — Writes compiled code to SYSTEM
tape. Makes core-image backups of any
machine-language programs. £4.95
Specialised electronic
circuits
Do you have an idea for a circuit
which you have difficulty in
implementing?
We undertake all types of circuit
design from initial concept through
circuit diagram to completed board.
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Bourne
Lines.
Mk7o ('/yri[x/tor Systems Tel: 0945 712741
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178 PCW
PROGRAMS
350 DP TP 24,32,10,26,30,18,25,31 ,24,25,31 ,32,25,31 , 38,29,31 ,46,25,32,62,24,3?,
72,25,27,80,29,32,80,24,32,86,25,32,92,25,32,100,24,32,106
360 PRINT#723 , "COPYRIGHT 1981, S.WILLIAMS"
370 SX(0> =47 : SY(0) = 128: DX=56: DY=128: 1=4: FDR X«1 TD 7: GOSUB 30: NEXT
380 1 = 7: GOSUB 30: 1-1: GOSUB 30: FOR X = 207 TO 216: PRINTS, -—**;: NEXT
390 K = 2: C =0: FOR N=1 TO 1000: NEXT
399 ••• INSTRUCTIONS
400 CLS: PRINTS,"SHEEPDOG TRIPL"
410 FOR N=89 TO 102: PR IN T#N ,CHR$(131);: NEXT
420 PRINT^I30,"THE IDEP OF THE GAME IS TO DIRECT P SHEEPDOG "D$" TO GUIDE;
THREE SHEEP "S$" THROUGH PND PROUND P SERIES OF OBSTACLES;
DEPICTED ON THE SCREEN. THE CONTROLS FOR THE SHEEPDOG APE"
430 PR INT “' 'PS SHONN WITH, FOR INSTPNCE, THE '6' MOVING THE DOG"7"8"9;
"UP THE SCREEN PND THE '6' MOVING IT TO THE RIGHT.-4"5"6;
"THE '5' CPUSES THE DOG TO STPND STILL. THE SHEEP.1"2"3"
440 PRINT.WILL ONLY MOVE WHEN PROMPTED BY THE PROXIMITY OF THE DOG.4
"THE COURSE IS DIVIDED INTO 4 SECTIONS, EPCH WITH PN OBSTACLE;
~TO GUIDE THE SHEEP THROUGH OR PROUND. POINTS PRE DEDUCTED FROM"
450 PRINT" P MPXIMUM SCORE IN EPCH SECTION FOR PN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF;
'MOVES. THE COURSE IS SHOWN IN PN INSET IN THE TOP LEFT OF THE*
-SCREEN. PVOID CORNERS, PL THOUGH THE SHEEP CPN PLWPYS BE"
460 PRINT".RETRIEVED. GUIDE THEM INTO THE PEN TO FINISH.;
.PRESS SPPCE BPR TO STPRT";
470 IF INKEYSO" " GOTO 470
4?c SECTION 1
r ri CLS: S=2 C:xl=19: SL-24
510 FOP M = 0 TO 320 STEP 64; FOR N = 0 TO 15: PEPD D: PRINT@M+N,CHR$(D) : NEXT N.M
520 DPTP 51 ,150,179,179,179,147,137,144,32,32,160,140,140,32,4S,17C,32.149,72,
89,68,71,69,170,160,168,161 ,71 ,65,84,69,170,1 76,1 78,179,1 79,147,169,32,17C ,
32,130,164,176,176,144,32,170
5 30 DP TP 70,79,82,68,1 30,164,1 33,170,84,82,69,69,42,162,1 32,170.52,80,69,78,1 36,
133,137,144,131,131 ,131 ,131,131,129,50,170,1 31,131,131,131,131,131,131,131.
131 ,131 ,131 ,131 ,131 ,131 ,131 ,131
MC PR INK* 390 , "SECTION 1":: PR INT@448, "SEC T ION SCGRE"S;*. PR TNT@51 2, "RUNNING
P( "PS:
550 DX=5S: SX(0)=43: SX(1)=46: SX(2)=S2: DT=128: SY(0)=128: SY<1)«256: SY(?> -20
56C PPINT@546,CHR$(152) ;CHR$(149):: PR INTSS59 ,CHPf(152) ;CHP$(148>
5 70 PP INT@609,CHP$(191 ) ;CHP$( 1 34) ;: PRINT@622.CHR$T 191 ) ;CHP$M 34)
580 PPINT«169,SJ ;: PPINT«30G,S$;: PPIMG37C ,S$;: PP IS T#a 181 ,D5 :
590 GOSUB 20
6 CO FOR N=0 TO 2: IF SX(N)>34 PND SX(N)<'46 PND SY(N)=576 PND S(N)=0 S (S j
615 NFXT: PRINT@461 ,S;
620 IF S(0)=0 OR S(1)=0 OR S(2)=0 OR SY(0)<768 OR SY(1)<768 OR SY(2) 768 OR DY<
64C GOTO 590
630 FOP N-1 TO 500: NEXT: C-0
£oc ... SECTION 2
700 R^=S : S = 2C : SL = 28: PRINT@398, ,, 2" ,*: PR INT@461 ,S;: PPINT§525,RS: STRING$(4C.
32): PRIM
710 PRIN78PX+DY-2,E$;: DY=DY-640: PRINT8DX+DY-2,D$:
7?C FOP N = C TO 2: PPINT@SX(N)+SY(N)-2,E1$:: SY(N ) =SY(N ) -640: PRINTSSX(N) +SY(N)
-2,S$;: S (N) • 0
730 FOR M=512 TO 704 STEP 64: FOR N-37 TO 42: PEPD D: PRINT8M+N,CHR$(D);: NEXT
K .M
741 DPTP " ,1 76.164,164,1 36,144,1 38,152,187,185,155,166,32,1 30,32,181,32,129.32,
32,162,143,145,3?
75C GCSUE 20
7 60 FOP N = 0 TO 2: IF SX(N)=40 PND SY(N'->7C4 PND S(N)-0 S(N) = 1
770 NEXT: PPINT8461,S;
780 IF SCO-O OP SCI ) =0 OP S (2) =0 OR SY(C)>255 OP SY(1)>255 OR SY (2 > >255 CP PY >
38" GOTO 75C
790 FOR N=1 TO 900: NEXT: C=0
7qc ... 5ECTICK 3
HOC PS = PS + S: s = 20: SL=51: PRINT@398,"3":: PRINT@461,s;: PRINT§525,RS;STPING$(30,
32): PRINT: PRINT: PPINT
810 PRINT@DX+DY-2.B$;: DY=DY+640: PRINT0DX+DY-2,D$;
820 FOP N = 0 TO 2: PRINT«SX(N)+SY(N)-2 ,B1S ;: SY(N ) =SY(N ) +640 : PRINT@SX fN) +SY fN)
-2,s$:: S (N) - 0: next
S30 FOP M = 256 TO 320 STEP 64: FOR N = 30 TO 48: PEPD D: PPINT(*M+N,CHR$(D):: NEXT
N,M
-40 DPTP 15G,158,166,154,166,166,166,172.139,178,166,165,153,15?,155,158,178,
166,150,148,138,32,32,133,32,129,133.130,32,130,32,129, V< ,13 .136.138,32.
133,130,32
65C GCSUE 2C
860 FOR N=0 TO 2: IF SX(N)«40 PND SY(N)<256 PND SCN)-0 S(N)-1
670 NEXT: PRINTS461 ,S:
980 IF S(0)-0 OR S(1)=0 OR S(2)=0 OP SY(C)<768 OP SY(1 X768 OR SY(2) 768 OR [*
64C GOTO 85C
890 FOP N=1 TO 900: NEXT: C=0
:cc. ... SETT TON 4
-n- s?s=rc;c : - = 20 : XL. = 7: SL = 21: PPINTS398 , "4" ;: PRINT®46 1 ,5:: PRINT@525 ,RS ::
PPINT§28E , Q TPINGS <20," PRIMS 35C .STRINGS < ’ 6 ." "' :
510 PRINTSDX + DY-2 ,B$;: DY=DY-640: PRINT@DX+DY-2,D$,*
620 FOP N = C TO 2: PP INTSSX (N ) +SY (N)-2 ,E1$ :: SY (N)-SY (M -640: PPIMSSX (N > +SY ( f ■
-2,S$;: s(N' =0: next
•30 FOR K -0 TO 9: REPD D: PRINTS652+N,CHP$CD);: PPINTS908+N,CHP$(P);: NEXT
Q4r FOP N = 72" TE 851 STEP 64: PPINTSN." ":: NEXT: DPTP 151,131,131.151,131,1-1.
151,131,131,149,
950 FOP Y = 33 TO 41: SET(24,Y): NEXT: PRINTS1007 ,CHP$(188);CHR$(176) ;
960 FOP V = ^4 TO 62 STEP 2: REPP P: FOP Y-D TO D*2: SET(X,Y): SET(X + 1,Y»: NEX)
Y , X
970 FOP X=80 TG 92 STEP 2: REPD D: FOR Y=D TO D + 2: SET(X,Y): SET(X+1,Y): NEXT
Y,X
960 DPTP 21 ,21 ,21 ,22,22,22,22,23,23,23,24,25,26,27,27,39,40,41 ,42.43.44,45
°90 ppint§672,"**"; : PPIN TS738 ,"* *":: PP INT@805
1000 GOSUB 20
SIXTYFIVE ZX81 PROGRAMS
65 IK program listings for only £4.95
Includes many games. Home Finance,
Utility, Chequebook, Mortgage, and
more. Includes Hints'n'Tips.
BEGINNERS BASIC COURSE
Self-teach course in non technical
language for use with/without a
computer. Special sections for ZX81/
PET. Full question/answer sections.
Only £10.95. Barclaycard accepted.
SUSSEX SOFTWARE
(DEPTPCW3) WALLSEND HOUSE
PEVENSEY BAY, SUSSEX
M & G SOFT
MZ80K SOFTWARE
Z80 DISASSEMBLER
MACHINE CODE-FULL MNEWMONIC
WILL RUN WITH BASIC OR ZEN OR
ALONE £10.00
MZ-80K MACHINE CODE MONITOR
SIMPLE TO USE BUT VERY LARGE
INSTRUCTION SET - SAVE - LOAD
- VERIFY NAMED FILES- FULL ON
SCREEN EDIT - WILL SAVE ANY
PROGRAM - NO MEMORY LIMITS £9.95
SOUND EFFECTS GENERATOR
A PACK OF THREE PROGRAMS
MACHINE CODE GENERATOR
+2 BASIC CONTROL PROGS. £5.95
18 LEGATE ROAD
GYPSY BRIDGE, BOSTON. LINCS.
MICR0MART
in.PictfflPui.
MICRO COMPUTER SERVICES
PAPER: 11x9.5 inch 60g continuous plain with perfora¬
ted sprockets. £10.00 per box of 2000 sheets.
LABELS: 1.44x4 inch 2 across on web. £7.50 per 1000.
FLOPPY DISKS: MD 525 01 £15.00 per box of 10
MEMOREX £16.20 per box of 10
MAILING SERVICE: PERSONAL AND BUSINESS
MAILING LISTS CREATED AND PRINTED. RING
FOR A QUOTE.
DON'T WORRY IF YOU CANT SEE WHAT YOU
WANT. RING US AND WE WILL RING YOU BACK
WITH A QUOTE.
APPLE 48K EUROPLUS, 2 DRIVES AND 12 inch B/W
MONITOR £1350.00
APPLE SILENT TYPE PRINTER £189.00
EPSON MX80T £299.00 MX80FT£325
OTHERS - RING FOR A QUOTE
VIDEO GENIE SYSTEM 48K, 2 DRIVES AND 12 inch
B/W MONITOR . . .
THIS MONTHS SPECIAL OFFER : £999.00
VIDEO GENIE 16K £289 . . . 32K £345
12 inch B/W MONITOR £69.00.
POST AND PACKING AT COST
ALL ITEMS PLUS VAT
22 HOLLAND ROAD, CLACTON ON-SEA
ESSEX. TEL (0255) 29018,
SHARP MZ-80K software
£5 - DUST COVERS for MZ-80K COMPUTER or
MZ-80P3 printer. Black, waterproof.
£6 - HEAD ON. Basic/machine code arcade game. Gobble
up dots but avoid suicidal robot cars intent on your destruc¬
tion! Very fast. I
£5 - MOONLANDER. Complex real time lander.
Superlative graphics/sound (10K RAM).
£5 - COMPOSER. Play tunes via the keyboard. Replay your
compositions. Print music strings for future use.
£5 - CHASE. Excellent real time chase. Steal the gems but
avoid the vicious dog!
£5 — MANIAC. Exhausting real time maniac drive. Run down
strays, but don't crash. 81 skills.
£4 - BANK ACCOUNT. Input your regular income/outgoings.
See the year's cash flow in monthly statements.
£4 — BANNER. Input your message and see it scroll up the
screen in large graphics characters.
£4 EACH - BIORHYTHMS, MASTERMIND, FOX & GEESE,
ADDRESS BOOK.
COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING. Superb suite of pro¬
grams written by experts. Exclusive to us. £5 each - WORD
MATCH, COUNT & ADD, PICTURE COUNT. £4
CHARACTER MATCH.
Write or phone for full catalogue. Cash with order, or ACCESS.
All prices fully inclusive. Orders despatched by return.
FREE machine code SPACE INVADERS with all orders of £15
and over.
HIGHLIGHT SOFTWARE
3 Nether Court Halstead Essex C09 2HE
Telephone(0787) 475714
TOP PET GAMES
Only the best games qualify for inclusion in
SUPERSOFT's catalogue of programs for
the PET.
If you're a fan of arcade games then you'll
love SUPER GLOOPER, ASTEROIDS,
GIDDY GHOULS and METEORITES. They
cost £8 each (plus VAT) and run on all
40-column PETs other than the original Old
Rom machines.
If you prefer an intellectual challenge, then
THE HITCH-HIKERS GUIDE TO THE
GALAXY will have you tearing your hair
out (but you'll need a 32k machine — and
£16 plus VAT). The ultimate adventure
game is CATACOMBS (£27) but you must
have disks. If you have got CBM drives, but
prefer to take it easy then our latest adven¬
ture, GOBLIN TOWERS (£14) is a compara¬
tively mild introduction to the world of
adventure programs. Adventure addicts with
Basic 4 and disks should consider WEIRD
WOOD (£25); some people think it's better
than CATACOMBS!
Somewhere in between the extremes of
arcade and adventure you'll find HALLS OF
DEATH (£14) and WIZARD'S LAIR (£10)
and if you write for a free copy of our latest
catalogue you'll discover even more great
games.
Please add 15% VAT to all prices - Postage
FREE.
SUPERSOFT
Dept. P3, 10-14 Canning Road
Wealdstone, Harrow, Middlesex
Tel. 01-861 1166
.<§>
PCW 179
MICR0MART
PETS
PETS - We-Sell Them
As authorised Commodore Dealers we stock
and supply all PET Hardware., Computhink
Discs, Oki Microine 80 Decwriter LA34,
Texas 810, Qume Sprint 5 - all at com¬
petitive prices
PETS - We Buy Them
Part Exchange is very welcome, we also
buy for cash.
PETS - We Hire Them
Our specialist hire service, with main¬
tenance included for all Commodore equipment.
- Complete systems for evaluation
— Multiple units for educational courses
— Single units for individual use
From 1 day upwards, all units available.
Delivery by arrangement, anywhere in UK.
PETS - Software
We are fully authorised BUSINESS SOFT
WARE DEALERS for Commodore Soft¬
ware - COMPAY COMSTOCK.
WORDPRO etc. Also PETSOFT, BRISTOL
SOFTWARE, LANDSLER PAYROLL &
HOTEL SYSTEM. '
PLUS for ACCOUNTANTS, the unique
CSM INCOMPLETE RECORDS PACKAGE
— this is the best available.
MAIL - ORDER
All Hardware and Software can be bought
by Mail Order Delivery by Securicor, or
Registered Post. Discounts for Cash & Carry
or Mail-Order. Access accepted or by
Leasing (subject to acceptance)
MICRO FACILITIES LTD
12V High Street, Hampton Hill, Middlesex,
TW121NJ 01-979 4546 or 01-941 1197
4HMEIt
SHARP MZ-80K (48K - £399 plus VAT)
SHARP MZ-80B (£960 plus VAT)
VIDEO GENIE (£289 plus VAT)
ACORN ATOM (assembled - £150 plus VAT)
ATARI 400 (16K - £285 plus VAT)
ATARI 800 (16K — £525 plus VAT)
TEXAS T199/4 (£242.50 plus VAT)
Send large SAE for computer price list.
ATARI 400 £285 plus VAT
ATARI 800 £525 plus VAT
+ INTELIVISION + ACE TV GAMES
+ CHESS COMPUTERS
+ HAND HELD ELECTRONIC GAMES
+ SF, FANTASY & WAR GAMES
f ALL KINDS OF GAMES & PUZZLES
D D l/^LITOIV 1 18 SYDNEY STREET
DltlOrl I UIM TEL 0273 698424
QO systems ltd.
VERY HIGH RESOLUTION FOR NASCOM 2
380 x 220 individually addressable points
FEATURES:
• fully bit mapped from dynamic
RAM
• software controlled
• software supplied for point-
plot, line-draw, — block
shading and display control
• mixed text and graphics
• real time plotting
• display size variable to suit
memory available
Price.£55 + 15% VAT (post free)
EPROM PROGRAMMER FEATURES:
• programs: 3-rail 2708, 2716 2716, 2516
and single rail: 2758, 2508 2732. 2532
• EPROM type selected by plug¬
in modules — 3 modules
supplied with simple wiring
diagrams for all EPROM
types
• driven from NASCOM 1 or 2
PIO
• powered from NASCOM and
transformer supplied)
• software supplied for READ/
PROOR AM/VERIFY
M CAN BE USED WITH OTHER
MACHINES WITH 2 PARALLEL PORTS
Price.£63 + 15% VAT (P ost free )
All products built & fully
tested supplied with comprehen¬
sive documentation and full
instructions for simple install¬
ation
Send SAF for free data sheets
AVAILABLE NOW direct from:-
6 Laleham Ave., Mill Hill London NW7 3HL
Tel: 01-959 0106
PROGRAMS
•
1010 FCR h = 0 TG 2: IF SX(N)>14 PhD SX(N)<20 PhD SY(h) s 639 PhD SYfh > S G E PhD ,; 'h)
-0 SfM-1
1 020 NEXT: PRIhT@461,S;
•
•
1010 IF 5(0-0 OP SCI>-0 OR S(2i-0 GOTO 1000
1099 •** FlhlSH/PEPLPY
HOC PR Ih T§9 7 , "YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE COURSE 11 ;
•
•
1110 PPIhT@164,"WITH A TOTAL OF"RS+S"P0IhTS.";
1120 PRINTS?39, "AGAIh (Y OP N)7»;
1130 I$= INKEY$: IF I$»"N" CLS: END ELSE IF I$<>"Y M GOTO 1130
•
•
1140 RESTORE: FOP h=1 TO 228: READ D: HEXT: GOTO 500
•
I nU Kt j I UKt • T UK P 33 1 I L CLJj • KLHU L) • ntn I \ blj I L blM
ZX 81 Sun and Planets
by C Ward
This program calculates the day-by-day the Sun; day zero is 1 January 1980.
positions of the inner planets relative to
•
1 0
LET A=327.95626
•
20
LET B=0
30
LET C=-258.47927
•
40
LET D=-135.14322
45
PLOT 30,20
•
46
PRINT "SUN"
•
50
PLOT 30+SIN(A/180*PI)*20,20
+ COS(A/180*PI)*20
A
•
60
PRINT "MARS"
w
•
61
PLOT 30 + SIN(B/180*PI)* 1 3.1 804 32,20
+ COS(B/180*PI)* 1 3.1 80432
•
65
PRINT "EARTH"
•
70
PLOT 3 0 + SIN(C/1 80*PI)*9.5330396,20
+COS(C/180*PI)*9.5330396
•
75
PRINT "VENUS"
•
80
PLOT 30+SIN(D/180*PI>*5.1013216,20
+ COS(D/1 80*PI)*5.1013216
•
85
PRINT "M"
•
90
LET A=A-0.5240327
•
100
LET B=B-0.98561
1 1 0
LET C=C-1.6021291
•
1 20
LET D=D-4.0923507
1 30
PAUSE 40
•
1 40
CLS
•
150
GOTO 45
CHESS FINAL’81
Continued from page 101
search with the killer heuristic and
employs selective ‘pruning’ of the tree.
The amount of ‘pruning^ is increased
in complex situations to keep the
thinking time reasonably constant.
Cyrus examines about 200 positions a
second and includes an allowance for
future captures in each assessment.
Cyrus is the result of about six
months spare time work by its author.
Version 2 is currently being planned
and will be considerably stronger.
Three points are worth stressing
here: firstly, Cyrus only uses around 7k
whereas all the other computers use
considerably more: Logichess 2.1 uses
26k for instance. Secondly, version 2
promises to be stronger. M Steam one
of England’s International Grand
Masters discussed Cyrus’s games with
the author, finding them most im-
g ressive. He estimated the strength of
yrus to be around 170 on the BCF
grading scale (equal to about 1960 on
the international list). If Cyrus is really
this strong now what will it be like
when improved?
p,a K
Finally, Cyrus is in fact a better
yer than its author!
Clearly most people would like to
know how Cyrus would fare against the
best commercially available computers
and how it would stand up to human
opposition. I am afraid we will have to
wait a while before that can be an¬
swered. No doubt all the big names will
be competing for the World Micro
Computer Cness Championship (to be
held in Hamburg, 21-29 September.)
Unfortunately, Cyrus will not be taking
part. Still, there is no doubt everyone
interested in chess programs is going
to hear a lot about Cyrus in the coming
months.
Thanks must go to the organising
committee, D
e
orga
evy, K O’Connelf,
PCW the tournament director, Peter
Momsh Stewart Reuben (FIDE Inter¬
national Arbiter) and Graham Lee.
Kaane Danielsen would like to thank
Dylan Harris and John John Jones of
Thames Polytechnic for operating his
program ana Nascom for loaning the
machine on which it ran. Thanks also
to Cetronic for supplying the mains
conditioners.
-SPECIM LI/MTED OFFER-
for just one month only
THE EPSON MX 100 for just £499
Yes, this popular 15 inch carriage 80 cps bi¬
directional printer which is ideal for APPLE,
PET, SHARP, SUPERBRAIN, TANDY etc. is
offered at this special price for 1 month only.
Interfaces extra. Specify which micro on order.
FULL 12 MONTH GUARANTEE
To claim your special offer send this advert
together with your cash/cheque or bankers
draft to:
ANDERLEE COMPUTING SERVICES
17 ADELPHI CRES., HAYES PARK, MIDDX.
PHONE : 01-841 1507
Offer is subject to product availability and will
end on 30 November 1981 .
APPLE DOS 3.2 =
PERSONALISED DISKETTE
SERVICE
Your own DOS commands to order
Flashing Disk Volume to order
Flashing Disk File to order
Free Sector Count in DOS
SIMPLE LETTER WRITER
(Disk only)
for Apple/Paper Tiger Printer. Uses
9V2" computer paper. Enhanced mode
for Letter Heading. 96 character line.
Lower case with Lazer's l/c adaptor
SAE for details
MAIL ORDER ONLY
KWOKSONIC 27A ORCHARD ROAD
BROMLEY KENT
180 PCW
CALCULATOR CORNER
Continued from page 145
Software
The Casio Basic is closer to ‘normal’
Basic than that used by the Sharp,
which is both good and bad news since
some of the more unorthodox features
of the Sharp Basic, such as GOTO
(string variable) and IF (string variable)
are useful and attractive.
The 702 Basic has its high points too,
though. One and two dimensional arrays
(up to 200 elements) are catered for and
they may be numeric or string arrays (or
mixed if you can stay in control of your
subscripts). Strings may be stored in the
usual string variables A?,B$ etc (seven
characters max) or in a special 30
character variable called 1?. The string
functions LEN() and MID() are suppor¬
ted, but MID(n,m) only works on the
contents of $. String addition is
allowed.
No fewer than six sorts of variable
names are allowed; A-Z are the 26 fixed
registers, AO to A9 through TO-9 are the
200 user assigned variables and A(n)
is the form for array variables plus their
string equivalents. Thus A(10) is the
same register as B0, and A(18,7) is the
same as S7. As on the Sharp, A and
A? cannot be defined simultaneously.
‘Key’ is the equivalent of the key¬
board GET; when used in a loop it waits
for a character from the keyboard,
which allows input to start execution
without a return. Good news for
interactive games fans! WAIT is a pro¬
grammable pause which determines how
long a PRINT statement will display
its output — from 0.05 to 50 seconds.
CSR is equivalent to TAB and speci¬
fies the place in the display at which a
rinted result will appear. CSR and the
RT (PRINT) instruction with which it
is used can both accept an expression
for their argument, which is a nice
touch allowing all sorts of dynamic
displays to be set up.
GOTO and GSB may both take a
numeric variable or any expression as
argument to allow indirect jumps; both
may also specify a P register. Subrou¬
tines are nestable to ten levels, and
FOR. . . NEXT to eight. The condi¬
tional IF may be followed by THEN
and a line number (direct or indirect)
or by ; and a command or assignment.
The biggest omission in this otherwise
remarkably comprehensive Basic is that
no Boolean operators are included; the
Sharp by contrast has full Boolean
logic and advanced programmers may
well miss them. You pays your money
and takes your choice: string functions
or Boolean operators.
Bulk storage
The 702p stores onto cassette using the
same adaptor (FA-2) as the 602.1 don’t
have one and so cannot report directly
on cassette storage. Programs are
SAVEd by filename; individual P regis¬
ters can be saved and loaded. Chaining
is automatic; a program can be chained
or overlaid from tape by suitable
choice of line numbers. Data is trans¬
ferred by PUT and GET and individual
blocks of variables may be saved.
Remote control of a suitable recorder
is provided for. All this is gleaned from
the manual, which is no better than we
have come to expect from Casio and
quite unintelligible in places. The
program library is the standard Casio
issue, the same programs from the 502
and 602 libraries translated into Basic.
Benchmarks
and conclusions
I applied my new standard Benchmark
(see Calc Corner, Sept) to the 702 and
my earlier suspicion was confirmed: it
is very fast, as fast, in fact, as the 602p
which is my current record holder. This
is quite remarkable, given that it uses
interpreted Basic, and is in stark con¬
trast to the Sharp. I print the full table
of Benchmarks again, since I have now
performed the Sharp test myself instead
of using Microcomputing' sfigures.
To summarise, I liked this machine
a lot. Only the fact that I had a broken
wrist at the time of writing stopped me
sitting up all night with it; the features
are such that several months would be
necessary to really plumb its depths. It
has all the ergonomic features which
Machine
Time taken (secs)
Memory used
% of total memory
Texas T159
43
59 steps
10.3
HP-41C
37
41 bytes
15.6
Sharp PC 1211
52
81 steps
5.9
Casio 602p
20
21 steps
4.1
Casio 702p
20
77 steps
4.6
O^TT COMPUTING 00
ON THE MOVE WITH ZX SOFTWARE
PROGRAMS FOR THE ZX Bo/si INCLUDING
ZX CHESS Machine Code Program CIO OO
ADVENTURES From C7 OO To C9 OO
ZX BUG Machine Code Debugging C7 OO
EDUCATIONAL GAMES For Children
AND MANY OTHERS
for a catalogue giving details of
ALL PROGRAMS PLEASE SENO A SAE TO
ARTIC COMPUTING,
396. JAMES RECKITT AVENUE.
HULL, HU8DJA.
PET UPGRADE
We can upgrade your large
keyboard PET at a fraction
of the 'New Price' difference.
8K to 16K. £44.00
16K to 32K.from £56.00
8K to 32K.£69.00
NO EXTRA CHARGE
If expansion area drilled with
quarter inch holes . . .
All new RAMs fitted with sockets
Fast 2 hours while you wait service.
Tel: Mick Bignell
01-953 8385.
MICROMART
UNDECIDED
STRIKE NOW
PET
RRP
OUR PRICE
4008N 8K
£450
£382
4016
16K
£550
£467
4032
32K
£695
£590
8032
32K
£895
£760
DISK DRIVE
4040
343K
£695
£590
8050
950K
£895
£760
PRINTERS
4022
80COL
£395
£335
8024
132COLC1160
£986
8026
DAISY
£995
£845
VAT to be added to the above figures.
Carr. £5 P&P per item.
IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT WHY
WAIT?
THESE ARE THE PRICES YOU NEED.
ORCHARD COMPUTER SERVICES
ORCHARD HOUSE,
21 ST MARTINS STREET,
WALLINGFORD, OXON.
OPEN 6 DAYS PER WEEK
Telephone — Wallingford 0491-35529
VETS FOR PETS
Anita Electronic Services (London) Ltd.
are specialists in the repair and service of
Commodore Pets.
We offer a fast on-site service, or alter¬
natively repairs can be carried out at our
workshops should you wish to bring in
your Pet.
Pet maintenance contracts are available
at very competitive prices. Trade inquiries
welcomed.
For further information, tel or write to:
John Meade
Anita Electronic Services
15 Clerkenwell Close, London EC1
01 253 2444
We also specialise in the repair of all
makes of office equipment.
PET HI-RES
The new HR-40 board offers —
• 8k of its own RAM
• 64,000 individually addressable points
• 320 by 200 resolution
• machine code utility software in EPROM
• existing PET features unaffected
• easily fitted, no soldering necessary
• low price of £149 plus VAT
There's no limit to what you can do when
you have the HR-40 board fitted to your
PET. The single dot resolution allows you
to draw smooth curves, accurate diagrams
and much more. If you've got one of the
new 4000 machines with a 12 inch screen
then you'll need the HR-40B, but it won't
cost a penny more.
The HR-80 board for the 8032 should be
available soon — phone for details.
SUPERSOFT are PET/CBM software specia¬
lists. Other top quality products include
MIKRO, the assembler in a chip (£50) and
SUPERCHIP, the biggest selling British chip
(£45).
Our catalogue is available free to PET
owners.
SUPERSOFT
Dept. P3, 10-14 Canning Road,
Wealdstone, Harrow, Middlesex
Tel: 01-861 1166
PCW 181
MICR0MART
indair*
ZX8I
SOFTWARE
16K ADVENTURES CASTLE
REVERSI DRAUGHTS
EDUCATIONAL ASTEROIDS
ARCADE GAMES GRAPHICS
Send an sae for the latest
colour catalogue of software
for the SINCLAIR ZX81.
CDS MICRO SYSTEMS
10 Westfield Close, Tickhill
Doncaster DN11 9LA
Mail Order Only
L&.J Computers
192 HONEYPOT LANE, QUEENSBURY,
MIDDX HA7 1EE. 01-204 7525
BASIC PROGRAMMING
In response to many enquiries, we are running
courses in Basic Programming during this winter.
These courses are complete in themselves and
comprise 2 evening sessions, each from 6 PM to
10 PM. Dates available are as follows:
Tuesday/Wednesday 10/11th November 1981
Tuesday/Wednesday 24/25th November 1981
Wednesday/Thursday 9/10th December 1981
Tuesday/Wednesday 12/13th January 1982
The courses are designed as a concentrated teach-
teach-in with about 50% of the time being spent
on practical work at the keyboard. Syntax,
commands, algorithms, flowcharting will be
covered.
Price (per 2 evening session) is £40.00 plus VAT
(46.00 INCLUSIVE)
F urther information. Programs and Application
forms may be had by writing to the above
address, or telephoning 01-204 7 525 during
normal business hours (10AM-6PM Mon-Fri;
10AM-2PM Sat).
Numbers will be strictly limited to 1 0 per session
so that the highest ratio of instructors to students
can be maintained. Bookings will be made on a
first come-first served basis.
Quality support for: ATOM
. ZX8Q
ZX80 ACTION ! ZX8I
Flicker-free action games for your ZX80,
need only IK RAM and the original 4K ROM.
Cassette C80A: BRK0UT-ACK-flCK £4.00
Cassette C80B: SHELL GAME - INVADERS £4.00 |
The ZX80 Magic Book *WITH 8K R0M/ZX81 SUPPLEMENT*
Games programs, computer misic, converting programs
written in other RASICs, improving the picture, RAM
and 1/0 circuits, and much more. £4.75
Getting Acquainted with your ZX81 £4 .95
Mastering Machine Code on your ZX80/81 £5.95
23*23 WAY ZX80/81 EDGE CONNECTOR SOCKET £3.50
23*23 WAY ZX80/81 GOLD PLATED PLUG EXTENSION £3.50
ATOM CASSETTES; £5 each"
caaa : BREAKOUT ♦ CUPBALL+3D MAZE+SIM0N 2
caabPINBALLUETTERS+SPACEWAR*DRIVE
Both tapes need IK VDU ♦ 5K text RAM
The ATOM Magic Book
A wealth of games and other programs; storing speech
in your ATOM, converting programs written in other
BASICS, tape recording hints, plus many other useful
hardware and software tips. £5.50
16/32K ATOM RAM Boards from £59-50
Single F.urocard, can fit inside ATOM'S case. Built &
tested. Bare PCB only £23. S.a.e. for details.
ALL PRICES INCLUDE U.K. P&P + VAT WHERF APPLICABLE
TIMEDATA Ltd. 57 Swallowdale, Basildon .Essex
CALCULATOR CORNER
made the 602 and 502 so pleasant to
use, plus a good Basic, and all this with¬
out sacrificing speed. At around <£119 it
is good value, and, coupled with a
cassette recorder and printer, it will not
be out of place on the laboratory bench
or in the engineer’s office; indeed it can
do the job of a micro costing four times
as much.
EURO MICROMOUSE ’81
Continued from page 126
the PCW Show competition will be
attended by American mice. The state-
of-play in America, as far as micromice
are concerned, is not really too clear but
maybe a well-sponsored event will bring
some interest in the competition alive
in its birthplace.
Some aspects of the competition
will have to be amended. Mice are
getting quite intelligent and very fast.
Whether cross-overs will be allowed, or
some restrictions on how they are built,
or even cost-limits imposed is still up in
the air. What is clear, though, is that
interest in this rather amusing aspect
of robotics and artificial intelligence is
growing and some of the spin-offs will
probably be applicable to more serious
situations in the home, with handi¬
capped people, and even in industry.
If you are interested in knowing
more about the competition — or micro¬
mice in general — contact: John
Billingsley, Department of Electronics,
Portsmouth Poly, Anglesea Road,
Portsmouth. For more information
about the London Computer Fair Trials
contact: Fred Linger, c/o East London
Amateur Computer Club, 82 The Drive,
Ilford, Essex.
INTERRUPT
Continued from page 142
growing imbalance by at least inform¬
ing the haves about the potential plight
of the have-nots, and of the further
potential conflict that poses for the
entire society, which the riots in Britain
signal.
I have once again, as I did earlier for
Britain, painted a dismal scenario
which seems to indicate that the present
course of events is ensuring that, in its
social impact, microtechnology will
model itself after that fundamental
technology, the development of
writing, and will lead toward a more
hierarchical and polarised society. Next
month I shall investigate the origins of
hope that ComputerTown UK! brought
flickering from that earlier scene: the
elusive ComputerTown USA!
SHARP IQ3100
MCBOIRANSUTOB
Continued from page 115
its features novel, but in my opinion it
is streets ahead of the opposition, both
in design and price. The Graig and
Lexicon machines are not the sort of
thing an executive wants to take onto
an aeroplane, at least in the First-class
section. Moreover, they and the Odd-
pod, which is very similar to the IQ-
3100, cost well over £100.
Finally, should you wait until
machines that are cheaper/actually
translate/play Space Invaders come
along before you buy? I used to work
on machine translation myself and now,
as part of my normal job, I follow the
Japanese technical press, including
personal computer magazines. Nothing I
have gleaned leads me to believe there
will be any drastic new developments in
the near future — but as a linguist who’s
had to translate phrases like ‘of the’ at
least a billion times, I’d love to be
proved wrong.
A review of Graig and Lexicon
machines appeared in PCW December
1979. The only work on translation
using personal computers that I know
of was a French-English/English-French
Dictionary program in Basic that
appeared in Byte January 1980, pp.
206-208. Thanks are due to Sharp in
Manchester for the loan of the review
IQ3100, but sets are at present only
available from PHS Nelson Ltd of
Burnley, who have bought the entire
UK stock.
S.WALES MICRO
CENTRE
COMMODORE PETS
+
APPLES
+
SHARP
+
COMPUTER BOOKS
+
VIC-20-ORDER NOW!!
SEND £35 DEPOSIT.
SIGMA SYSTEMS
54 PARK PLACE CARDIFF 21515/34869
RING ME LAST
Ring ROGER MAY,
on 0342 832244
before you make the final decision
ring me and check the price. You'll
find I am the cheapest for your
computer equipment.
or save time ring now
for best possible prices
^Computer trade
182 PCW
Continued from page 69
The four prongs are constituted of
both internal and external selling. Inter¬
nally, special groups are being establish¬
ed within the company to sell the
system direct to end users (this will pre¬
sumably largely hinge around the sys¬
tem’s 3270 emulation capacity as well
as, in the longer term, the company’s
interest in local area networking). Not
unnaturally, it is also selling the system
through its own ‘shops’.
Externally it has gone for two major
retail chains. In the specialist computer
area it has selected the Computerland
chain, with some 160 outlets nation¬
wide. The other is Sears, Roebuck & Co,
one of the major chains (like Marks &
Spencer with knobs on), which is setting
up a business systems selling operation
in selected stores. With this range of
outlets, it should be able to sell to all
potential users of such a widely applic¬
able machine.
Another possible reason for restrict¬
ing itself to the US only is that it may
well not have the expertise yet to
manage the European market. Unlike
the US, European distribution is a mish¬
mash of local dealers and distributors,
with no clear-cut national names like
Computerland in the US (not here,
there: to save D Broad suing me).
To penetrate this market, IBM will
have to deal with the local dealers.
Though it has its own shops, in the UK
for example (all two of them), the indiv¬
idual retail companies will have to
handle the system for IBM to achieve
significant penetration. So, before it
attacks Europe, the company can be ex¬
pected to set up some form of internal
distribution group or company to
manage the operation. This, then, will
deal with the dealers. The chosen few,
at a guess between 30 and 50 of them
around the UK, will be getting the
equivalent of a million Michelin stars.
But that is enough about IBM in
particular, and the other leviathans in
general. What is their collective entry
liable to do to the ‘minnows’, the com¬
panies that started the whole goddam
business in the first place? There are
two generalised schools of thought here,
and at present it is hard to choose bet¬
ween them. The first is that the ‘credi¬
bility’ they will give to the overall mar¬
ket will expand it considerably, and that
all present will be able to take their
share. The second is that the minnows
will be effectively mangled and trodden
underfoot.
In practice, there is liable to be a
mixture of the two. Certainly there will
be added credibility for the microcom¬
puter market. Everyone has heard of
IBM, even my Auntie Vera, and knows
that they make computers (which do
great harm to gas bills — and other hor¬
ror stories). Some of the original manu¬
facturers, however, are liable to suffer.
These will no doubt include some of
the smaller companies, though if they
are sensible, they will ‘cherry pick’
applications areas or provide other spec¬
ialist reasons for users to keep them in
business. The main sufferers could well
be those companies that are now at the
top of the microcomputer pile — com¬
panies like Apple, Tandy and Commo¬
dore. Apple could suffer because it is
narrowly based, having been built up
solely out of the micro business. It is,
however, the darling of Wall Street, and
the rumours about Apples IV and V
show it is still developing new products.
Tandy is, well Tandy, a very large and
broadly based company.
But Commodore? Well, the PET is
now long in the tooth, and it is signific¬
ant that new PET-based products
marketed by Commodore are not all
developed by Commodore. They could
be a favourite for something, which
could range from a new system, via a
takeover, to demise.
BLUDNERS
An entire line seems to have fallen off
the very bottom of page 54 last month’s
‘Newsprint’ — the fine (the last on the
page) should have read: ‘With the
decision to sell. . .’ And heavens knows
how, but the headlines in ‘Leisure
Lines’ became Transposed so that what
should have been the Quickie became
the Prize Puzzle, and vice versa.
SOFTWARE
WE WRITE PROGRAMS TO
FIT YOUR REQUIREMENTS
E.G.SCHOOL RECORDS
ARMBAM LTD
KILN LANE
LEIGH
TONBRIDGE
KENT TN11 8RT
HILDENB0R0UGH 832130
Word Processing
with
WORDSTAR
Independent advice
before purchase
Expert training afterwards
in your office
Mayflower_
Computing Consultants
6 Hardon Road, Parkfields
Wolverhampton WV6 0HD
_ 0902-403010 _
k i
BOOKS and
SOFTWARE
Fw AT AMI - PET/CBM - OSI - 6602
Authoritative reference for the
original Microsoft 4NC + 8*
BASIC developed for Altair
and later computers including
OSI. PET and TRS-80
m 6666
S-44 Card Manual describes all
of the 4 5 x 6 5 44o«n S-44
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MUST for every KIM-. SYM-
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Ortter Mo 162 M «
Reprint of Intel's most im
portant application notes in
eluding 2708 . 9086 . 8266.
6251 ch<x Very necessary tor
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Ortter Mo 1S3 66.96
Net* revised applications
manual for the Texas Instru
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Board avaiiabie (68 961.
Complete listings for the bust
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ness Applications
Ortter No. 1S6 61460
Tha First Boot of Oho
Scientific
Introduction to OSI com
puters. Diagrams. Hardware
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Ortter No. 157 6765
The Second Book of CMuo
Important S o ftw a re for CBM
WK/32K
Most powerful Editor/As
sembier for Commodore CBM
16/32K on cassette Assembler
can be started directly from
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editor. Cassette with DEMO
Ortter No. 3276 63660
MONJAMA/1 Makes Merhw
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In every Commodore CBM
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JANA Monitor on Cassette for
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OrtterNo 156 67.95
The Fourth Book of OHIO
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Many interesting programs for
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PCW 183
ABC 24: Vol 4 No 4
BACK ISSUES SERVICE
Here is a complete guide to all available back issues of PCW. A quick guide to their contents
is shown below. Check the coupon overleaf for the issues you require
Volume 1 No 1, 1978
The 77-68/Practical hints
on kit building/Nascom
1/Charity case study/
Flowcharting/Pontoon
flowchart
Volume 1 No 2, 1978
Kit building/Basic — first
steps/Case study — a soft¬
ware house/PET 2001/
Research machines 380Z/
School computing/E78 —
Europa Bus.
Volume 1 No 3, 1978
More efficient programs/
Cosmac 1802/The PDP11
Part 1/Small business
computing — an approach/
The Z80/EPROM program¬
mer construction.
Volume 1 No 6
October 1978
Pilot/Assembly code pro¬
gramming /Small business
case study/PET preening/
Time tabling for schools.
Volume 1 No 8
December 1978
Microcomputer architec-
ture/System design/
Colossus/Medical inter¬
viewing machine/Hints
for the business beginner/
Cromemco Z2D/School
computing/3rd Noughts
& crosses/Low cost/High
speed cassette interface
Volume 1 No 11
March 1979
SYM-1 /Mkl 4/IEEE-488
Bus/Motorola 6809 /Small
computer networks/TMS-
9900 homebrew.
Part II /Demonstrations
using tne Apple II Part I.
Volume 2 No 3
July 1979
Basic or Pascal?/The
Sorcerer/Z8000/Chess
programming/Graphics
for the TRS-80/Apple-
vision — part II/
Volume 2 No 4
Apple medical applica¬
tion/North Star Horizon/
Word processing/High
speed cassette interface/
Sorting/Buying a compu¬
ter for a small business
Volume 2 No 5
September 1979
Benchtest: Compucolor
II/Checkout: Heuristics
Speech Lab/Testing
Precognition/Pascal
series — Part I /Programs:
6800 Time response,
Apple memory test,
Fx 201 p spaceship PET
Orbit sim, PET digital
clock. Acronyms.
Volume 3 No 6
June 1980
Benchtest: Tandy TRS-80
Model II/Benchtest:
Sintrom Periflex 630/48 /
Staff case study/Checkout:
Softy Intelligent EPROM
Programmer/Checkout:
Exatron Stringy Floppy/
Practical examples of the
IEEE-488 bus use/
Programs: Naming Nascom
files, 380Z Pictures,
Fuel tank calculations —
PET, PET large numeral
generator, PET tank battle,
Basic string handling
Volume 2 No 1
May 1979
Chess programming/Using
a small business computer
Part 1 /Smart 1/In defence
of PET/3D Noughts &
crosses.
Volume 2 No 2
June 1979
Different computer lan-
routines/Pascal: Final
instalment.
Volume 3 No 9
Setember 1980
Benchtest: BASF 7120/
Checkout: Hi-Tech S100
colour VDU board/
Secrets of systems analy¬
sis — Part 1 /Sub set —
part 1/Benchtest: CBM’s
‘SuperPET /Programs:
PET Dots & boxes, PET
Bloobers, PET Demolition,
Apple Showpiece. PEEK &
POKE for Apple & Pascal,
PET Giant Slalom, Speed
& Acceleration.
-Personal, v.
Computer
-m
4
Volume 3 No 10
October 1980
3-D graphics/Benchtest:
Atari 400 & 800/Bench-
test: DAI/Robotics/
Benchmarks/Programs:
PET Racer, PET Fighter
Pilot, UK101 Graphics,
Apple Plotting, UK 101
Gunfight, PET Algebraic
evaluation, ZX80 Breakout
Volume 3 No 12
December 1980
Benchtest: Microwriter/
Printerfacing: Series —
Part 1 /Sharp PC-1211
speed-up/Programs: TRS-
80 Tarot, PET Cat &
Mouse. PET Rebound,
MZ-80K Alligator Swamp,
PET Connect, UK101
Minefield, PET Simon
Volume 4 No 1
January 1981
Benchtest: Transam
Tuscan/Real-time control
using trains — part 1 /
Recover from a data tape
disaster/PET Music/
Multi-user systems — part
1 /Programs: TRS80 Four
in a row, TRS80 Target
Practice, PET Convoy,
PET Wire, PET Maze
Chase, PET Android
Attack, PET Anagram
Volume 4 No 2
February 1981
Benchtest: The Vector
Graphics VIP/Patterns —
Part 1/The last one/Real
time control — part 2/
Multi-user systems part 2/
ZX80 Printer/Programs;
PET Greenfingers, ZX80
Bumper Bundle (3 pro¬
grams), PET Brick Stop
Volume 4 No 3
March 1981
Benchtest: Onyx C8002/
Benchtest: Bigboard/Micro
music sottware package/
ALC circuit/Commons
report/HP 34C/Programs:
TRS80 Show Jumping,
PET Grand Prix, PET
Aircraft landing, PET
Bouncy.
Volume 4 No 4
April 1981
Benchtest: ABC 24/
Slow scan TV/IDPM/
Word processing: Bench-
tests/ZX80 books/
Commons report/Casio fx
3500p/Programs: ZX80
Maths Test, ZX80 Calen¬
dar PET Link Index,
ZX80 Moon Lander, TRS-
80 Rocket Attack, TRS-80
Dropout, PET Giant
Trap.
Volume 4 No 5
May 1981
Benchtest: Pasca 640/
WP Benchtest: Magic
Wand/PET colour/Low-
cost digital tape system/
Using calculator printers
on micros/Apple music¬
making/Multi-user Bench-
test: MVT-Famos/Pro-
grams: PET Grand Prix,
PET Aircraft Landing,
PET Bouncy.
-Personal.
Computer
.Personal.
Computer
Av.oiM
Volume 4 No 6
June 1981
Benchtest: NEC PC-8001/
Multi-user Benchtest: MP/
M/Benchtest: Sinclair
ZX81/West Coast Faire
report/Radio Teletype/
WP Benchtest: WordPro
4 Plus/Budget tape inter¬
face/Further Casio quirks/
Programs: UK101 Zor,
PET Chords.
Volume 4 No 7
July 1981
Benchtest: Sharp PC-3201/
Multi-user Benchtest: Acorn
Econet/ Case study:
Accident investigation on
TRS-80/Zilog Z8 family/
WP Benchtest: Format-80/
Pascal Benchmarks: readers’
letters/Quicker Casio com¬
putations/Programs: ZX80
Sliding Letters, UK101 Car
Rally, TRS-80 Calendar,
UK101 m/c code to Basic
converter, PET Exam
S uestions, MZ-80K
esigner, ZX81 Sketch
Pad.
Benchtest: Tandy Model
Ill/Viewdata update/WP
Benchtest: Spellbinder/
Printer survey/Micro¬
holism/Programs: ZX80
Othello ; Easter Sunday ;
Apple Mondrian; MZ-80K
Duck Shoot; PET
Gomoku; MZ-80K Foot¬
ball.
Vol 4 NoO
September 1981
Benchtests: Tandy Color
Computer, Commodore
VIC/Checkouts: Hi Tech
Speakeasy, Tantel/ Multi¬
user Benchtest: HMSOS/
WP Benchte t: Memorite
III/Word proc program for
PET/Apple dealership
run by spastics/Printer¬
facing extra/Calc Comer:
Casio fx602p review/
Programs: PET Arithmetic
test, ZX80 Eldorado,
380Z Memory test.
-Personal.
Computer
Volume 4 No 10
October 1981
Benchtest: OKI if-800/
Checkouts: Heuristics
speech link. Softy 2/Calc
Corner: Texas TI51-III/
Jeff Taylor on computer
literacy projects/introduc¬
ing TJ’s Workshop / Con¬
trol Your Own Substation
pt 1/Programs: TRS-80
Sailing
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MORE POWER TO YOUR POCKET!
the FX 702 R A pocket computer
that communicates
in BASIC language.
H and held alphanumeric
programmable - BASIC
language-holds up to ten differ¬
ent programs simultaneously -
subroutines nested up to ten
levels-program looping up to
eight levels-simplified program
editing and debugging-variable
programming capacity: between
1680 steps with 26 memories and
80 steps with 226 memories-
55 single key routines including
log, trig and hyperbolic-built-in
routines include standard devia¬
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coefficient-all programs and
memory data retained even when
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with over 70 program examples.
Optional FA2 adaptor for program
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r.r.r £134.95
AVAILABLE AT SPECIALIST CASIO CALCULATOR OUTLETS.
186 PCW
UAalU WHAT WILLTHEY THINK OF NEXT?
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MD577 77 Track. £27.50
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Enough for 26 bi¬
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CRAB SOFTWARE
(for the TRS-80;
Level I)
L INTERPRETER
Based on ALGOL W (developed by Niklaus Wirth) CRAB
ALGOL offers the best features of block structured, high
level languages and as an interpreted language, CRAB
ALGOL is an ideal tool for developing powerful programs.
Included amongst thefeatures of this extensive language are:
-Data modes; Integers (2-100 bytes length), logical,
strings, ref (pointer), records (any number of fields),
dynamic arrays.
- Functions and procedures-, recursive definitions, any
number of parameters (value, result & value-result)
- Statements; IF, REPEAT, WHILE. FOR, CASE etc.
-all fully implemented
- m/c link & memory access; CALL, GET, PUT
- Standard functions; SIGN, ASC, RND, STR, INKEY etc.
- Full tape I/O; user definable I/O, multi-speed scrolling;
repeating keyboard, definable cursor etc.
Send S.A.E. for further details £75.00
CRAB MACHINE CODE DEVELOPMENT
SOFTWARE: CRAB ASSEMBLER
Features all the usual assembler functions, but with com¬
pressed storage can assemble programs 40% longer than
with EDTASM. Includes complete documentation for Z80
instruction set. £10.00
CRAB DIS-ASSEMBLER
Fully comprehensive dis - assembler producing source
tapes compatible with the CRAB ASSEMBLER. £6.00
Both above programs £14.00
All three programs above will run on the MODEL 11
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SHARP MZ80 P3 80 Column Dot Matrix Printer £395.00 EPSON MX80 F/T1 Dot Matrix Printer £399.00
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SHARP MZ80 I/O Interface Unit £ 95.00 OLYMPIA ESW100RO Daisy Printer £886.00
SHARP PC 1211 Pocket Computer £ 80.00 SHARP Interface and Cable £ 75.00
SHARP CE 122 Printer/Cassette Interface £ 63.00 SHARP (DISK) Interface and Cable £120.00
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USER NOTE No. 2 NOW AVAILABLE:
Annual subscription only £3.00 — Send 35p stamp for complete catalogue and subscription form,
or send cheque for £3.00 and receive Issues No. 1 and 2.
TO:
SHARP©©!?!?
Sharpsoft Limited — 86-90 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE Telephone: 01-739 8559
MACHINE LANGUAGE MADE SIMPLE
ZX80 AND ZX81
* This new book is a must for any SINCLAIR user who wants to make full use of his SINCLAIR ZX80 and ZX81.
j Go beyond Basic into the world of MACHINE LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING and open computer horizons
you never thought possible! Learn how to use the SINCLAIR computer's own language and finally find out
what PEEK and POKE is all about!
MORE COMPUTING POWER IN LESS SPACE!
FASTER RUNNING PROGRAMS!
Written for the complete beginner as well as for the experienced SINCLAIR user,
MACHINE LANGUAGE MADE SIMPLE has over 120 pages packed with
programming techniques, hints and tips.
WRITE YOUR OWN MACHINE LANGUAGE PROGRAMS...
* USEFUL BASIC PROGRAM TO EDIT MACHINE LANGUAGE *
COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE INSTRUCTIONS GROUPED BY
SUBJECT AND BY USEFULNESS * NUMEROUS SAMPLE MACHINE
* LANGUAGE ROUTINES DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SINCLAIR 80 & 81 * SIMPLE
} EASY TO USE LOOK UP TABLES. £ 3^95 (plus50Pp&p)
f Please send me copies MACHINE LANGUAGE MADE SIMPLE FOR YOUR ZX80 & ZX81.
MELBOURNE HOUSE PUBLISHERS
Orders to: 131 Trafalgar Rd. London SE10
Correspondence: Glebe Cottage, Glebe House, Station Rd,
Cheddington, Leighton Buzzard. Bedfordshire LU7.
Please enclose cheque or P.O. for £9.45 per copy.
Orders outside the UK £9.95.
| NAME.
I ADDRESS
L--—
PCW 189
■I★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
IZHZIZHIIZHIIZHIIZH
Electronic Brokers I IZH !Z I • I
LOW - COST VDU'S
H1000 The low, low priced
teletypewriter-compatible video display
terminal, offering your choice of
transmission speeds up to 9600 baud as
well as parity generation and checking.
12 x 80 display upper case ASCII, RS232
interface, choice of baud rates Standard
baud rates either (a) 110/300 or (b)
300/1200. (£25 surcharge for other
combinations up to 9600 baud).
SUPER VALUE. £199.00
H2000 Superb spec, including full XY
cursor addressing and edit facility,
27 x 74 display, upper case ASCII, RS232
interface, switch-selectable baud
rates £299.00
H2000C NOW ALSO AVAILABLE with
25 x 80 line format and C-MOS logic
£375.00
Modular One. Now with upper/lower
case, XY cursor addressing, 24 x 80 line
display, dual intensity detachable
keyboard, choice of 8 transmission rates
up to 9600 baud. £399.00
Also available from time to time
Haze Itine 1500from. £575.00
Hazeltine 1510 from. £650.00
THE ZX81
COMPANION
PRICE £ 7.95
INCL. UK POSTAGE
ISBN 0 907211 01 1
The best-selling in-depth guide to useful
applications of the Sinclair ZX81.
Chapter 1: REALTIME AND GRAPHICAL
TECHNIQUES including a full treatment of
INKEYS.
Chapter 2: INFORMATION PROCESSING.
The ZX81 as an electronic filing system.
Chapter 3: EDUCATIONAL APPLICATIONS
with several primary and secondary examples.
Chapter 4: THE MONITOR with disassembled
listing and entry points.
NEW GP80 PRINTER
BRAND NEW — LOW COST MATRIX PRINTER IDEAL FOR
MICROPROCESSOR USERS SUCH AS HOBBYISTS & EDUCATIONALISTS
Full upper/lower case ASCII
PLUS GRAPHIC Mode
80-column printing with
adjustable tractor feed
Standard and double-width
characters (12 cpi and 6 cpi)
30 cps print speed with 1 -line
buffer
Standard parallel (Centronics-
type) interface
Optional interfaces available
for RS232, IEEE488, Tandy,
PET, Apple II
ONLY. £199.00
TELETYPE OFFERS
Reconditioned ASR33 Teletype Terminals with paper tape punch and
reader, even parity keyboard and RS232 interface.
SPECAIL OFFER — SEVEN DAY WARRANTY — CASH AND CARRY
ONLY. £295.00
Low Cost Printer offer.
Teletype 33 printer mechanism
including case but no keyboard or
electronics, 64 upper case ASCII, 10 cps,
pinfeed platen, ideal for the electronic
hobbyist ONLY. £85.00
DEC SALE
Huge stocks of DEC processors, peripherals, disk drives, terminals, add-on
memory, option modules, etc. etc. Send for latest list
Electronic Brokers Limited
61/65 Kings Cross Road
London WC1X 9LN England
Telephone: 01-278 3461
Telex: 298694 Elebro G
All items reconditioned unless otherwise stated
Hours of Business 9a. m 5pm Mon-Fri. Closed lunch I 7pm
ADD I 5% VAT TO ALL PRICES
Carriage and Packing charge extra on all items unless otherwise
stated A copy of our Trading Conditions is available on request
OR ANY LOW-BUDGET APPLICATION
Send cheque for £7.95 to:
LINSAC 68 Barker Road, Linthorpe,
Middlesbrough, Co.Cleveland TS5 5ES
1
icro
eneral
MATRIX PRINTERS...
Please contact us for advice on printer selection
MICROLINE 80
Popular, robust printer with block graphics.
New models 82A & 83A now available, 120
cps, true descenders, Serial/Parallel
interfaces switch selectable.
£285+ vat
EPSON MX-SERIES
Remarkably versatile printers for many
applications. Graphics models and full
range of interfaces available.
FROM £359+vat
(FOR MX-80T)
CENTRONICS 737-2
Correspondence quality. Forward and
reverse paper motion. Superscript and
subscript etc. Nascom 2 driver routine
supplied.
£345+vat
FREE DELIVERY to UK Mainland.
Listing paper £17.00+VAT per 2,000 sheets.
FREE INSTALLATION within 30 miles of Reading.
DAY or EVENING appointments welcome.
MICRO GENERAL, 6 The Birchwoods, Tilehurst,
Reading, Berks RG3 5UH. Tel: 0734 25226.
190 PCW
PRICES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
HARDWARE
Computer Stop 16k Memory Expansion Card - New low price for this card of proven
reliability. Can be used in place of language card for Pascal etc £75.00
Omnivision 80 column Card - Fully compatible with all the currently available Apple
languages. True decenders on lower case. Now best value on market at £120.00.
Mountain Hardware C.P.S. Card. Three Cards in one both serial and parallel interfaces and
aclocIVcalander. Amazing pf
Sup-R-Terminal
Echo II speech Synthesiser
SSM IEEE Card
n slot capability.
£139.00
£195.00 Videx Videoterm
£185.00
£139.95 Z-80 Softcard
£195.00
£319.00 Astar Light Pen
£19.95
SOFTWARE
£125 Visidex
£125
£100 Visiplot
£75
Visicalc3.3
Visiterm
Starfleet Orion-Morlocks Tower-Galactic Empire-Galactic revolution-Demon
Derby-Golden Mountain-Alien Typhoon-Space Warrior-Fender Bender-Torpedo
Terror-Network-Windfall-Invasion Orion-Datestones of Ryn-The Dragons Eye-Galactic
Trader-Galaxy Wars-Alien Rain (Galaxians)-Tank Command-3D Sking-Computer
Bingo-Space ll-A.B.M.-Mission Asteroids-Wizzard and Princess-Gobblers-Checker
King-Bridge Partner-Alian Lander-Both Barrals-Bloody Murder-A2 3D1
Enhancement-Wilderness Campain-Doom Cavern & Sore. Chall-Tank Attack-Global
War-Mystery House-H/R Cribbage-Sabotage-Microchess 2.0-Gammon Gambler-Star
Cruser-Tranquility Base-Flight Simulator-Satern Navigator-Higher Fonts Aj( ^ ^
Crush Crumble and Chomp-Trilogy of Games-Hyperspace Wars-Space-Rescue at
Rigel-Tawala’s Last Redoubt-Apple panic-Raster Blaster-Appleoids-LA A Land
Monopoly-Terrorist-ThePrisoner-Painter Power-Missile Defence-HI-ResSoccar-Space
Adventure-Phantoms Five-Autobhan-Orbitron-Galactic Attack-Micro Info System-Soft
Porn Adventure-Retro Ball-Space eggs-Pulsar 11-Gamma Goblins-Sneakers-Space
Raiders All at £15.95
Temple of Apshai-Hellfire Warrior-Snoggle-Akalbeth-Ultima-Home money
Minder-Caves of Karkan-Star Warrior-Space album-3D Graphics-The Mail
Room-Telestar 1-Pool 1.5-Shuffle Board-Three Mile Island-The Voice-Threshold-Paddle
Graphics-Gorgon-Epock-Micro Memo-Cartels and Cutthroats-President
Elect-Linguist-Higher Graphics ll-Higher Text 11-Dogfight-Robot Wars-The Best of
Muse-U-Draw ll-Elementary Math-Cranston Manor-Monty Play Monopoly-Cyber
Strike-Aristotles apple-Computer Conflict-The Warp Factor-Flight
Simulator-Odyssey-Star Gasers Guide-Escape From Arcturus-Program Line
Editor-Directory Manager All from £20.95
Software for Apple with Z-80 Softcard.
Dbase II - State of art data base just arrived from America. This is the most sophisticated
piece of software for the Apple we have ever seen. We are still finding features in it.
Programming will never be the same again. £450
Supercalc £179.00 Wordstar £179.00
Basic Compiler £256.00 Mailmerge £75.00
Fortran 80 £109.00 Cobol 80 £299.00
ACT I Cross assembler £83.00 Supersort I £94.00
63 Lisburn Lane.Tuebrook, Liverpool L139AF. Teh051-256-8244.
The Prince—
a micro computer that
offers you everything
Everything?
Well, check it out for yourself and see if
there's anything missing.
But be warned, the Prince is not a plaything
although the price might suggest it Its a real
business machine with full computer
facilities.
Keeping up with technology.
Digico Computers have enabled their users
to keep pace with technology since 1966.
Provides for growth
By linking you to powerful mini systems and
permit you to develop a real big system
capability.
Maintenance for seven years.
Offenng a seven year maintenance
guarantee* the Digico Prince provides the
coming of age seal to the micro industry.
■®bh»c
UP
TEC| UIOLOGY
Backed in Britain.
Digico Computers have been in the
business of computer hardware design,
manufacture and maintenance for over
fifteen years. With factories in Leeds and
Stevenage, the Prince is fully supported in
the United Kingdom.
Rentals for low cost items.
Including maintenance, rentals start from
way under £20 per week.
Minimum Interruption Plan (MIP)
If your Prince goes down, we ll exchange it
for a replacement to keep you running — aD
in the rental price!
Starting from around £ 1.700
Start with the computer, visual display,
diskette storage, add CP/M operating system
plus languages and build up from there.
Ready made accounting
No development cost — just buy proven
packages covering sales, purchase and
nominal ledgers plus stock control, order
entry, payroll, word processing and full
graphics.
Ideal for new Computer users
Maximise your learning on a minimum
investment and then link up to larger
systems when you’re fully familiar and
ready to grow.
Well, have we offered you everything?
We may have omitted to mention a
demonstration first
DIGICO Computers
MICRO DIVISION
Arena House
46 Broadway
Letehwxth
Herts SG6 3BX
Tel: (04626)78172
•Providing there is a maintenance contract continuously from new
C.F.S.
IS HERE
An economic, easy to use, reliable digital Cassette File Store — C.F.S. is available
now for use with NASCOM 1 and 2 microcomputers.
FEATURES
Sophisticated operating system provides a file handling capability
superior to that of many floppy disc systems.
High reliability ensured by use of professional digital recorder and
automatic data verification.
Fast data rate of 6000 b.p.s. equivalent to 1 Kbyte in 1.3 Secs.
Automatic storage and retrieval of Machine Code, BASIC, ZEAP and
NASPEN.
Controls up to 24 individually named files.
96 Kbytes of storage on single digital mini-cassette.
Easy to install — connects to PIO port.
Supplied as self-contained unit in compact rugged case with its own
integral power supply.
Low cost — complete system only £170 + VAT.
For full details S.A.E. to:
GRANGE ELECTRONICS LTD., (Dept. E), STONE LANE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE,
WIMBORNE, DORSET BH21 1HD (Tel: 0202 884752)
PCW 191
Commodore official distributors
NEW DAISYWHEEL PRINTER IN STOCK
NEW MATRIX PRINTER NOW IN STOCK
THE RELIABLE VALUE FOR MONEY SYSTEM
WITH FULL AFTER SALES SUPPORT.
4008/16/32
8032 8050
48 K £807.00
DISK DRIVE £393.00
DISC £299.00
FULL RANGE OF
MONITORS
B/W - GREEN OR
COLOUR.
PAPER TIGERS
Apple authorised distributors
The sophisticated quality system with
a reputation for advanced design and
64K S/D £1750
64K QD £2250
64K +
1.5 MEG £2850
FULLY
INTERGRATED
ACCOUNTS
PACKAGE.
innovation.
48K £395
DISK DRIVES
PRINTERS ETC
The incredible computer system
now available ex-stock including the
New Duel Drive Double Sided Floppy Disk.
MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEMS
462 COVENTRY ROAD ■ SMALL HEATH • BIRMINGHAM B100UG
Telephone: 021 773 8240 or 021-772 5718 • Telex: 335909 (Camden G)
COmPUTER CUBE
Following the craze that is sweeping the world
we are pleased to introduce an innovation in
computer puzzles. Computerized Rubiks Cube.
This program gives graphical representation of
twists, slices and rotations of the cube and with
over 43 billion combinations it could take you
a week or two (at least) to solve!
TRS-80 Ibkll or Video Genie
As a seasonal good gesture we are
giving away a free sound subroutine
with all orders that we receive before
Christmas
£10 inc
p & p
TELE 21 FFORDD ERYR, MOCHDRE
SOFT COLWYN BAY, CLWYD LL28 5BN
TRS80
and
VIDEO
Our new ROM will . . .
• Completely debounce your keyboard!
• Give you lower-case software
(includes keyboard invertor as typewriter — state if
NOT required)
• Auto check if our new 'Feature' ROM(s) are installed
• New security feature installs your own security code
for all to see
(up to 19 characters) we suggest name and postcode
Send £14.95 + VAT (with your security code) for ROM
and full fitting instructions (simply remove old and plug in
new — as easy as childs play).
Feature' ROMS . . .
A new series starting with the following . . .
'A'
• Gives a toggle feature for the keyboard inverter
• Auto repeat
• Single keystroke commands
• Machine code monitor and editor plus special features
(details on request)
Kit £18.95 + VAT or fitted for £26.45 + VAT + carriage
(£8 Securicor) including full simple instructions.
Lower Case Hardware
Kit gives full lower case and special characters . . .
VIDEO GENIE — £19 + VAT ) Fitting £5 if required +
TRS 80 — £10 + VAT ) VAT and return carriage
Access and Barclaycard accepted
General Northern Microcomputers (GNOMIC)
46 Middle St, Blackhall, Hartlepool, Cleveland.
Telephone: Peterlee 863871 860314
192 PCW
SALES-LEASE
and other services
64K
SUPERBRAIN 64K
£1770
SUPERBRAIN STANDARD MODEL
(350KB DOUBLE DENSITY DISK DRIVE)
SUPERBRAIN QUAD MODEL
£2070 (700KB QUAD DENSITY DISK DRIVE)
SUPERBRAIN + PRINTER
(BUSINESS SYSTEM CONFIGURATION)
SUPERBRAIN + PRINTER
+‘WORD STAR’ SOFTWARE PACKAGE
(COMPLETE WORD PROCESSING SYSTEM
ALL CPM SOFTWARE P.O.A.
PASCAL
FORTRAN
CIS-COBOL
COBOL 80
FORTRAN 80
MBASIC
CBASIC
APL
MPM
PLI
EPSON
Unbelievable quality from the world's
largest print head manufacturer.
WORDSTAR
MAGIC WAND
SPELLBINDER
MAILMERGE
DATASTAR
SUPERSORT 1
IBM 3780 EMU
STATIONERIES
INCOMPLETE RECORDS
INTEGR. ACCOUNTS
SALES LEDGER
PURCHASE LEDGER
NOMINAL LEDGER
INVOICING
PAYROLL
STOCK CONTROL
DBMS
Qume
£1395
MX80T
MX 80/FT
MXTOO
£ SOFTWARE
20 HIGHER GRAPHICS
95 APPLE DESK TOP PLAN
60 CCA DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
12 MICROCHESS CHESS DISK
10 DISC UTILITY PACK
300 APPLE BUSINESS CONTROLLER
PROGRAM
25 APPLE POST PROGRAM
10 APPLE BOWLING DISKETTE
35 3.3 DISK OPERATING SYSTEM
8 STELLAR INVADER
100 APPLE FORTRAN PACKAGE
100 VISIPLOT VISI-TREND
70 VISITERM
16 ZORK
15 GAMMON GAMBLER
15 BRIDGE PARTNER
100 VISICALC DISK & BOOK COMPLETE 3.3
50 MICROBASE MAILING LIST
100 MICROCHASE STOCK CONTROL
20 3D SUPER GRAPHICS
DOCUMENTATION
12 FORTRAN
9 APPLE II REFERENCE MANUAL
10 6602 HARDWARE MANUAL
8 6502 SOFTWARE MANUAL
3 APPLE II BASIC PROGRAM MANUAL
4 APPLESOFT II REFERENCE MANUAL
4 DOS 3.2 MANUAL 3.3
4 APPLE II BASIC TUTORIAL MANUAL
4 AUTOSTART ROM MANUAL
11 PASCAL MANUALS
14 BENEATH APPLE DOS
GENERAL ACCESSORIES
18 WIZARD AND THE PRINCESS
20 (10) BLANK APPLE DISKETTES
VINYL CARRYING CASE
MINT DISC LIBRARY BOX
DUST COVER FOR APPLE II
DUST COVER FOR APPLE DISK DRIVE
APPLE DESK TWO TIER
PRINTER TABLE FOR APPLE
PRINTER DESK ECONOMY RANGE
TWO TIER DESK ECONOMY RANGE
SINGLE TIER APPLE DESK
ADD ON PRINTER STAND FOR APPS
MONITOR SHEL 1 /. FOR APP5
FREESTANDING MONITOR SHELF
DATA DESK TWO TIER WORKSTATION
DISCOFLEX FILING CASE MINI
12 MISSION ASTEROIDS
VIDEO MONITORS
18 MYSTRY HOUSE
100 9” HIGH RESOLUTION B/W MONITOR
100 9” BLACK & WHITE VIDEO MONITOR
165 12” BLACK & WHITE VIDEO MONITOR
CABLE FOR VIDEO MONITOR
150 12” VIDEO MONITOR GREEN DISPLAY
MONITOR CABLE FOR VM12G
120 VERSA WRITER GRAPH PORTABLE
175 Z80 SOFTCARD
POATABS ACCOUNTS
110 DB MASTER
HARDWARE
600 APPLE 48K VIDEO OUTPUT ONLY
260 DISC DRIVE WITHOUT CONTROLLER
330 DISC DRIVE WITH CONTROLLER
25 16K ADD ON
CARDS & ACCESSORIES
120 ALF MUSIC SYNTHESISER CARD
10 TIMING MODE INPUT BOARD
7 ALF MUSIC ALBUM 1
7 ALF MUSIC ALBUM 2
7 ALF MUSIC ALBUM 0 (CHRISTMAS)
180 ANALOG OUTPUT BOARD 4 CHANNEL
300 ANALOG OUTPUT BOARD 8 CHANNEL
200 A1-02 DATA ACQUISITION CARD
200 AD-DA
11 PROTOTYPE/HOBBY CARD
50 PARALLEL PRINTER INTERFACE CARD
100 COMMUNICATIONS CARD
80 HIGH SPEED SERIAL INTERFACE CARD
90 LANGUAGE CARD
50 CENTRONICS CARD
90 RAM CARD
95 EUROCOLOUR CARD
120 SPEECH LAB
390 GRAPHICS TABLET
90 CONTROLLER CARD
APPLETEL SYSTEM
180 80-COL DISPLAY CARD FOR BASICS
10 DISC TO CONVERT DV80 TO PASCAL
200 APPLE JUICE
5 APPLE BLACK & WHITE MODULATOR
58 HEURISTICS CONTROLLER 70
145 HEURISTICS SPEECHLINK 2000
110 IEEE INTERFACE
160 CLOCK/CALENDER CARD
180 SUPERTALKER
110 ROM-PLUS BOARD
100 ROMWRITER
30 COPYPLUS ROM
320 MUSIC SYSTEM COMPLETE
PRINTERS
250 SILENTYPE 80-COL GRAPHICS PRINTER
25 10 ROLLS THERMAL PAPER FOR
A2M0034
9 DUST COVER FOR SILENTYPE
PRINTER
380 CENTRONICS 737 PRINTER
C/W ADAPTOR
20 11x9.5” PAPER FOR CENT. 737
32 It ZIPPACK RIBBONS FOR CENT. 737
9 DUST COVER FOR CENT. 737 PRINTER
TEXAS OMNI 810 PRINTER
T1810 PAPER 11x14.5” (2000)
T1810 PAPER 11x15.5/16” (2000)
TEXAS 810 RIBBON
FULL UK ASCII
DUST COVER FOR T1810 PRINTER
540 PAPER TIGER PRINTER WITH GRAPHICS
8 SERIAL CABLE FOR TIGER PR INTER
18 GRAPHICS SOFTWARE FOR TIGER/G
18 2000 SHEETS 11x9.5 PAPER 1 PART
RE-INKING RIBBON & ROLLER SET
*AII prices ex. VAT
*Our own low cost maintenance 24 hrs. service
MICROCOMPUTER HIRE SERVICE
Superbrain with application packages
Apple System A TRIAL PERIOD FOR YOUR COMPUTERISATION.
PET Tandy Sorcerer Horizon Printers A COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE FOR RENTALS
CENTRAL OFFICE: Microcomputer Spacedrome, 3 Westholm, London NW11. 01-458 5845
Promglow Ltd., 12 Dene Road, New Southgate. Tel 01-368 9002.
PCW 193
SELLING YOUR COMPUTER.
UPGRADING - PART EXCHANGE YOUR SYSTEM
LOOKING FOR A NEW OR USED COMPUTER.
SEARCHING FOR A SUITABLE SUPPLIER.
COMPUT A COMPUTER WITH
KELLYS COMPUTER MARKET
01 - 659-7997
New APPLE 48k £595
Refurbished ITT2020
Used 5% floppies
New ACORN ATOM — Ring for details
Used Computers — printers — Peripherals etc.
Software for all. Bespoke + off the shelf.
NEW
ELECTRONIC TILL. Everything for the small BUSINESS. INSTANT STOCK UPDATE, Invoice
printer, daybook, VAT Calculations, Posting, Accounts, Low Stock Warning, Reorder printing,
Visual verification of Inputs, Transactions analysis, Remote keypad + VDU. INCLUDING PRINTER
from £2700.
All prices exclude VAT and Carriage
PARAGON HOUSE, 46 KENT HOUSE LANE, Beckenham, KENT
"mnv \a/DITF" ^ mos * complete bit copier
LUr / "rr/T/ / L for Apple programmes
" COPY-WRITE" disk backup system copies virtually all Apple programmes. SPREEBOND believes "COPY-WRITE" is the
most sophisticated disk backup system available. Do not be misled by our advertised competitors. Their programmes may not
copy all the latest protection formats employed by manufacturers to frustrate the software buyer from making needed
backup copies of his vital business, accounting, data base, and modelling programmes.
FEATURES OF "COPY-WRITE"
• AUTOMATICALLY COPIES HALF TRACKS. Apple
disks only use 35 tracks, or every other one of the 70 available
on a 5!4 inch disk. Many protection techniques place some data
on the alternate or half-tracks which normal copy programmes
cannot read or copy.
"COPY-WRITE "automatically searches and reads both full
tracks and half-tracks and then writes the data found to the
destination disk.
• COPIES SYNCHRONIZED TRACKS.Some disks align all
tracks in the same pattern as on track 00. "COPY-WRITE"
writes these sectors in the same pattern as found on the original
disk. Most other copy programmes cannot.
• PROVIDES "STATUS FIELD DISPLAY". "COPY-
WRITE "supplies the operator with a track by track progress
report as the programme reads, aligns, verifies, and writes each
track.
• PERMITS PARAMETER CHANGES. "COPY-WRITE"
not only recognizes the usual DOS 3.2, 3.3, Pascal, CP/M, etc.
formats, it will also change parameters to adjust to abnormal or
Spreebond Limited Parkwood Estate,
Sutton Road,
Telephone: (0622) 683-866 Maidstone,
Dealer enquiries welcome Kent. ME1 5 9NE.
foreign DOS techniques designed to frustrate making of backup
copies.
These parameter changes can be made with "COPY-WR/TE's"
special and unique state-of-the-art utility called MDDS (Memory
Dumper/Disk Searcher). MDDS enables the user to look at each
track in ASCII or HEX and determine whether the usual FF
sync-bytes have changed to some abnormal permutation.
• FILER PROGRAMMES. Once unusual parameters have been
identified by MDDS, "COPY-WRITE" allows the user to
save to disk each set of parameters for future use with similarly
encoded disk formats.
• FLEXIBLE. "COPY-WRITE" is the only bit copier with
flexible parameters and filer programmes that enable it to res¬
pond to new encoding techniques developed by manufacturers.
SPREEBOND'S subscription maintenance service will provide
parameters that update the programme to match new encoding
techniques. No other copy programme is as versatile.
• TUTORIAL MANUAL. "COPY-WR/TE's"2^ page tutorial
manual provides instructions for use of the programme.
HOW TO GET "COPY-WRITE"
• "COPY-WRITE” is available for £50 + VA T.
Orders may be placed by mail or by telephone. Personal cheques are
accepted, as are VISA and ACCESS cards.
194 PCW
Hehrm/s
COMPUTER KIT
DIVISION
COMPUTER
TANGERINE
LONDON & HOME COUNTIES STOCKISTS
404 EDGWARE RD. LONDON, W2 1ED TEL: 01-402 6822
TANGERINE* TANGERINE -TANGERINE-TANGERINE-TANGERINE
MICROTAN 65
Microtan 65 is the most advanced,
powerful, expandable micro
computer available - it
also happens to be the
most cost effective!
MICROTAN 65 CONTENTS
High quality, plated thru hole printed circuit board, solder resist and silk
screened component identification 6502 microprocessor IK monitor
TANBUG Now with V Bug IK RAM lor user programme, stack and
display memory VDU alphanumeric display of 16 rows by 32 characters
MICROTAN 65 system file binder 136 page, bound, users hardware/
software manual with constructional details and sample programmes
Logic and discrete components to fully expand MICROTAN 65
The MICROTAN 65 kit has won widespread acclaim for its superb
presentation We pay attention to detail 1
KIT FORM £69.00 + £10 35 VAT, total £79 35
MICROTAN 65 assembled and tested.
Specification as above, but assembled and fully bench tested by ourselves
£79.00 + £11 85 VAT total £90 85
MICROTAN 65 OPTIONS
MINI MOTHER BOARD
Used to connect Microtan to Tanex
Built £1 0.00 + VAT
LOWER CASE PACK
Two integrated circuits which connect
into locations on MICROTAN
allowing 128 displayable characters
£9.^8 + £1 42. total £10 90
GRAPHICS PACK
Five integrated circuits which connect into locations on MICROTAN
allowing the display of chunky graphics (64 x 64 pixels) What are
chunky graphics 7 Well, imagine a piece of graph paper with 64 squares
vertically and 64 squares horizontally, a total of 4096 Each square can
be made black on white
£6.52 + V A T 98p. total £7 50
20 WAY KEYPAD
Inexpensive means of getting up and running Uses Schoeller’ key
switches, and connects to MICROTAN through a 16 pm D IL plug on
ribbon cable Black anodised escutcheon, with TANGERINE legends,
finishes off what must be the best value for money keypad available
Available assembled and tested
£ 10.00 + V AT £1 50. .otaI £11 50
'Space Invaders game (for use with keypad only)
£15.22+V AT £2 28 total £17 50
POWER SUPPLIES
MPS 1 Input 120 or 240V AC Output 5 Volts at 3 Amps Regulated
MPS 1 will power both MICROTAN and TANEX fully expanded Built on
the same size printed circuit board as MICROTAN etc Available as a
fully built and tested unit
£23.00 VAT £3 45. total £26 45
X MPSZ +5V 6A. +12V. 5 and 12V switch mode system PSU
£69.13 + v a t
MINI-SYSTEM RACK
We have produced a mini system rack which accepts MICROTAN 65.
TANEX and our mini mother board It has an integral power supply. |ust
plug it into the mains and away you go 1 Finished in TANGERINE/BLACK,
it gives your system the professional finish Front panel access for I/O
cables AVAILABLE AS AN ASSEMBLED UNIT
£43.00 + V A T £6 45. total £49 45
FULL SYSTEM RACK
For the man that has everything 1 19 inch wide
system rack which accepts MICROTAN 65. TANEX. TANRAM. SEVEN
FURTHER EXPANSION BOARDS. TANDOS and THE SYSTEM POWER
SUPPLY Available in many formats, e g Individual front panels, full
width hinged front panel, back panel with or without connectors
£49.00 + VAT £7 35, total £56 35
MICRON
COMPUTER
FULLY
BUILT.
TESTED,
and housed in
ATTRACTIVE
CASES.
£395
inc VAT P&P
6502 based microcomputer VDU alpha numeric display Powerful
monitor TANBUG-8K RAM 32 parallel I/O lines 2 TTL serial I/O lines
Four 16 Bit counter timers Cassette interface Data bus buffering
Memory mapping contol 71 key ASCII Keyboard, including*numeric
keypad Includes power supply Also includes the first '1 OK MICRO
SOFT BASIC ' available in the U K All the usual BASIC commands
TANRAM
AVAILABLE NOW TANRAM 40K Bytes on
one board 1 Single board of bulk memory
offering 7K Static RAM (2114). and 32K
Dynamic RAM (4116) Onboard refresh is
totally transparent to CPU operation and is
unaffected by normal DMA s TANRAM fully
expands the available address space of the
6502 microprocessor MICROTAN, TANEX and TANRAM together
provide 16K RAM. 48K RAM. and IK I/O • that's a lot of memory
and a lot of I/O 1 Built and tested TANRAM ASSEMBLED
40K RAM CARD with 16K DYNAMIC RAM £76 WAT
CONTENTS High quality plated thru hole printed circuit board, solder
resist and silk screened component identification Full complement of
I C sockets for maximum expansion 64 way 0 I N edge connector
1K RAM (2114) Data bus buffering TANRAM users manual
EXTRA RAM
IK STATIC (2114)
£2 95 each 16K DYNAMIC (4116) £1 50 each
MEMORIES EXPAND YOUR SYSTEM WITH OUR TANGERINE
Discounts 10% for 4, 15% for 8. 20% for 16 APPROVED CHIPS
2102 1K x 1 Static RAM 80p
2708 £3.50
2716 £6.50
MK 4116 16K x 1 Dynamic RAM
*1-50 All plus VAT
IM 6402 UART £4 50
2114 IK x 4 Static RAM £2.95
8080A £5.00
4118 IK x 8 Static RAM f7.50
MONITORS (PROFESSIONAL)
RECONDITIONED AND NEW - FROM £35 00 to £129.95
CENTRONICS Ideal for Tangerine
PRINTERS
sheikosha£199 vat
Model 730 £350 + VAT
Model 737 £395 + VAT
£170
NEWMICROTANTEL
POST OFFICE APPROVED
PRESTEL-VIEWDATA
• FULL COLOURGRAPHICS • MICROTAN
OWNERS CAN COMMUNICATE WITH EACH
OTHER • CAN STORE PRESTEL • CAN BE
USED AS AN EDITING TERMINAL • CAN BE
INTERFACED WITH PET. APPLE etc
Just connect to the aerial socket of any colour or black and white
domestic T V receiver and to your Post Office installed |ack socket and
you are into the exciting world of PRESTEL Via simple push button use
you are able to view 1 70.000 pages of up to the minute information on
many services, order goods from companies all this without leaving
your armchair 1
FV AT
NEW PRODUCTS
M>W
HIGH DEFINITION GRAPHICS
£90.85 mcl VAT
CONTROLLER CARD £120.00 •VAT
SERIAL I/O CARO |From| £58.00 VAT
PARALLEL I/O CARO (From) £47.50 VAT
ROM CARO IBUILTI LESS ROM £47.50 VAT
AIM KIM INTERFACE CARO £59.00 -VAT
SERIAL I/O KIT £1 7.25 incl VAT
Minimum
Config Kit
TANEX £43.00
CONTENTS +VAT £6 45. total £49 45
High quality plated thru hole printed circuit board, solder resist and silk
screened component identification 1C sockets for maximum expansion
64 Way 0 I N edge connector 1K RAM. cassette interface, 1 6 parallel
I/O lines, a T T L serial I/O port, two 16 bit counter timers, data bus
buffering, memory mapping, logic and discrete components foi
maximum expansion TANEX users manual r—V
TANEX (Minimum configuration) Assembled \A \ \ \^'
£53.00 + V A T £7 95. total £60 95 \XjbUffflBt
TANEX EXPANSION
Expanded. TANEX offers 7K RAM
locations for 4K EPROM (2716),
locations for 10K extended
MICROSOFT BASIC. 32 parallel I/O
lines, two TTL serial I/O ports, a
third serial I/O port with
RS232/20mA loop, full modem
control and 16 programmable baud
rates, four 16 bit counter timers,
cassette interface, data bus
buffering, and memory mapping
EXPANDED TANEX KIT (Excludes ROM. XBUG and BASIC)
£89.70 + V AT £13 46. total £103 16
EXPANDED TANEX ASSEMBLED
£99.70 + V AT £14 96. total fl 14 66
OPTIONS TO FULLY EXPANDED TANEX IN SIMPLE
INEXPENSIVE STAGES
10K Extended MICROSOFT BASIC in EPROM (with manual)
£49 00 + V AT £7 35, total £56 35
Extra RAM 1K (2 x 2114) £5.20 -»- V A T 78p. total £5 98
SERIAL I/O KIT £10 26 + V AT £1 60. total £11 80
6522 VIA £8 00 + V A T £120. total £9 20
XBUG U 7 35 +VAT £2 60. total £19 95
AS YOU CAN SEE THE PRICES OF OUR EXPANSION
COMPONENTS ARE VERY, VERY COMPETITIVE'
TANGERINE DISC SYSTEM
Z80 CONTROLLER CARD £150.00 WAT
DOUBLE SIDED DOUBLE DENSITY DRIVE
£215.00 vat
CP/MDISK OPERATING SYSTEM
£80 WAT
71 KEY ASCII KEYBOARD £56.34+vat
NO EXTRAS NEEDED
Uses gold crosspoint keys Includes numeric keypad and ribbon cable
Available as fully assembled and tested
SUPER METAL CABINET IN TANGERINE/BLACK
£ 20.00 + VAT £3 00 total f23 00
PROFESSIONAL ASCII KEYBOARDS
Ideal for
Tangerine
£29.95 vat
52 key 7 bit ASCII coded
Positive strobe +5V 12V
Full ASCII characters
Parallel output with strobe
Power light on control
Chip by General Instrument
(G I) TTL output
■ Superbly made
• Size 13x55x1 5 ins
• Black keys with white ledgens
• Escape shift return &
reset keys
• Control repeat & bell
• Complete with DATA
ADD-ON
KEYPAD
Acompact 12button keypad
suitable for use with above
keyboard to extend its functions
plus four extra keys Supplied
brand new with with data A
4x4 non-encoded single mode
keyboard
LIST PRICE
£22 00
OUR PRICE
£7.95
♦ VAT
SYSTEM MOTHER BOARD WITH
4 SOCKETS FOR SYSTEM RACK £39 VAT
SYSTEM MOTHER BOARO WITH „ „
12 SOCKETS FOR SYSTEM RACK £55 VAT
32K RAM CARO £115 VAT
32KRAM CARO (LESS CHIPSI £54.65 me VAT
PLUS MANY NEW EXCITING PRODUCTS IN DEVELOPMENT
AUTOMATICALLY AVAILABLE FROM US WHEN RELEASED BY
TANGERINE LTD
All products are available
FULLY GUARANTEED * BUY WITH CONFIDENCE
BRITISH DESIGN & MANUFACTURE ANO ON DEMONSTRATION
IN OUR COMPUTER DEPT
•TANGERINE •TANGERINE • TANGERINE -TANGERINE -TANGERINE
All orders pre-paid and official advertised here to be
TANGERINE -TANGERINE -TANGERINE
Stockist Enquiries on headed notepaper to:
COMPUTER KIT LTD.(Principal Distributors in U K ) ■fr\riAiorrlorl Dl DCPTI v + _
11/12 Paddington Green, London, W2.Tele 01-723 5095 °aea UjnCU LY ...
jeiex 262284 Ret 1400 TRANSONics COMPUTER DEPT., 11/12 PADDINGTON GREEN. LONDON W
send for ,
fUllJHtO CHORE
PCW 195
VIDEO GENIE MICRO only £299 with 12 month warranty. We
supply the full Genie System, including single disc drive:-£215;
Twin 40 track:-£395; Twin 80 track:-£545. 1 2" Monitor £65.00.
(Free with every Genie, 120 page Software Catalogue).
PRINTERS
tpson MX80 FT £399 (High Quality Bi-Directional)
Centronics 737 £349 (with proportional spacing)
Seikosha GP80A £210 (Economical Matrix Printer)
Microline 80 £229 (quiet and reliable).
SUPERBRAIN-STATE OF THE ART BUSINESS
MICRO Tremendous Price/Performance Ratio. CP/M Based,
Masses of Software. Lease a Superbrain from around £12 per
week! or a complete Business system, including Software and
1 36 Column Printer from only £29 per week.
TANTEL We can now demonstrate the Tantel Adapter, giving
access to over 180,000 pages of Data with any Television
only £169.00
SOFTWARE (ask for full list)
FOR GENIE/TRS 80 SUPERBRAIN
Visicalc £65.00 Wordstar £215.00
Newdos 80 £69.00 Mailmerge £ 65.00
L.Dos £85.00 Datastar £170.00
Complete Integrated Business systems, from under £1000,
Ask for details.
GOOD RANGE OF ACCESSORIES AND COMPUTER
BOOKS FINANCE LEASING AVAILABLE
Open 9.00 - 5.30 Monday - Friday
9.30 — 1.00 Saturday.
All prices VAT extra.
MICRO BUSINESS SYSTEMS
C.T. MADDISON LTD
EAGLE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE THE CROFTS
WITNEY OXFORD TEL: WITNEY (0993) 731451
Ths ■iii|iI:ijIii|yii,
CROYDON
THE SHARP MZ80K
48K SYSTEM
£390
FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
A COMPLETE SYSTEM INCLUDING 48K MZ80K.
DUAL FLOPPY DISK DRIVE, PRINTER
l/F CARDS & CABLES £1,450
+ THE NEW SHARP MZ80R
BASIC SYSTEM £1,095
COMPLETE SYSTEM INCLUDING 64K MZ80B.
DUAL FLOPPY DISK DRIVE WITH 680K
STORAGE, PRINTER, CP/M + WORDSTAR (OR
SOFTWARE OF COMPARABLE VALUE)
£2,250
WORSTAR
269
MAILMERGE
82
SPELLSTAR
136
DATASTAR
190
SUPERSORT 1
136
WORDMASTER
82
PL/1 - 80
299
BT-80
120
MAC
54
SID
45
ZS1D
60
TEX
60
DESPOOL
30
CIS COBOL
425
FORMS 2
100
BASIC-80
209
BASIC COMPILER 236
FORTRAN-80
299
COBOL-80
448
M/SORT
75
MUMATH
149
EDIT-80
72
MACRO-80
119
MAXELL MD2
36
DSDD DISKETTES PER
PACK
GREAT NORTHERN
SOFTWARE
SALES LEDGER
OPEN ITEM
SALES LEDGER
PROFESSIONAL
CLIENT BILLING
PURCHASE LEDGER
NOMINAL LEDGER
STOCK CONTROL
DATAFLOW -
DATABASE
MANUFACTURERS -
INVENTORY
MANUALS AVAILABLE SEPARATELY
DELIVERY - ANYWHERE IN THE U.K.
ADD VAT TO ALL PRICES.
78 LOWER ADDISCOMBE ROAD, CROYDON TEL: 01 654 4147
WHY DON’T YOU PLAY A ROUND
WITH OUR NEW GAMES?
• 4
Now a whole world of skilled entertainment is at your fingertips.
LEISURE GENIUS introduces games like EXPLOSION, DEATH,
and WORMS to test your strategic ability and your dexterity.
Unlike most other computer games, you can play these with partners
and opponents and you can play WORMS against your own micro.
Invented by some of Britain’s brightest experts, they are a challenge
you can’t pass up or put down. Don’t let all work and no play make
computing a dull business!
i
lAs\
Each game is available on floppy disk for only £15.00 plus VAT from
most computer retailers or direct mail order from:
Leisure Genius, Suite 504, Albany House,
324 Regent Street, London W1R 5AA
Telephone: 01-580 6361
In U.S. write to:
Leisure Genius, 34-36 83rd Street, Jackson Heights, New York 11372
Leisure
Genius
196 PCW
*C F A C C'
"THE BEST ACCOUNTS PROGRAMME ON THE MARKET*" — £900
(FULLY TAILORED TO YOUR OWN REQUIREMENTS - £1200 IF YOU BUY THE HARDWARE FROM US, OTHERWISE £1500)
MAIN MENU
1. ADDRESS PROGRAMME
2. SALES INVOICES
3. PURCHASE INVOICES
4. STOCK CONTROL
5. ORDER CONTROL
6. PAYROLL
7. PAYMENTS MADE
8. PAYMENTS RECEIVED
9. CREDITORS
10. DEBTORS
11. SUPPLIER STATEMENTS
12. CUSTOMER STATEMENTS
13. AGENTS STATEMENTS
14. PRINT CUSTOMER INDEX
15. PRINT SUPPLIER INDEX
16. BANK RECONCILIATION
17. PURCHASE LEDGER
18. SALES LEDGER
19. END OF MONTH PROCEDURE
20. VAT STATEMENTS
21. JOB COST ANALYSIS
22. PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT
23. BALANCE SHEET
24. CAPITAL ASSETS
25. (JOB COST ANALYSIS)
26. DISK DIRECTORIES
27. ALTER IN CORRECT FILE ENTRIES
28. PRINT LEDGER CODES
29. PRINT STOCK LIST
30. FINISH USING 'CFACC'
PLEASE ENTER SELECTION NUMBER'*
'CFACC' ACCOUNTS PROGRAMME - COPYRIGHT COMPUTERS FOR ALL LTD
1. The Programme resides totally "in core" leaving BOTH DISKS FREE for files and enabling disks to be changed during use.
2. Every Programme issued is "PERSONALISED" with your Company's details. Our "After Sales Service" is positive, giving you
constant access to the Author of "CFACC". We arrange Nationwide hardware support.
3. You need only enter invoices and other payments in and out and "CFACC" will produce all the DATA for the MENU Programmes (it
will ask the user for any other information it needs).
4. All relevant information is stored for CUSTOMERS, SUPPLIERS, EMPLOYEES and Others.
5. Automatic VAT Calculations.
6. Automatic calculations of WAGES and SALARIES.
7. INVOICES can be produced automatically using Customers' names and addresses from file and Stock Items from file — all calculations
aro automatic.
8. INVOICES are automatically printed on plain paper or on your own stationery. Invoices entered are retained for automatic printing
at the end of the day, lunchtime etc.
9. STOCK FILE is automatically UPDATED whenever a Purchase or Sales Invoice is entered and the User's attention is drawn to any
item which has reached RE-ORDER LEVEL.
10. Customer and Supplier Statements printed on demand showing Current, 1 Month, 2 Months, and 3 Months and over figures. These
are automatically updated as payments are entered. The User's attention is automatically drawn to any Customer exceeding his CREDIT
LIMIT. REMITTANCE NOTES are produced of invoices selected for payment — CHEQUE PRINTING optional.
11. "Open Item" ledgers retain all invoices until they are paid (Purchase & Sales).
12.Outstanding Orders are retained on file until invoiced (Purchase & Sales).
13. Automatically calculates COMMISSION due to Agents and Salesmen.
14. DEBTOR and CREDITOR lists available on demand.
15. PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT, BALANCE SHEET and TRIAL BALANCE printouts on demand.
16. MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL REPORTS include:
1) GROSS PROFIT RATIO ii) RATE OF STOCK TURNOVER
iii) NET PROFIT as a PERCENTAGE OF SALES iv) INCOME STATEMENTS,
v) AGE OF DEPT ANALYSIS
17. CAPITAL ASSETS STATEMENT on demand.
18. INCOMES & EXPENDITURE is analysed into 70 ledger classifications and the amounts in any one of these can be called at any time.
19. ENVELOPES or ADDRESS labels can be printed from Address Files.
20. Full Random Access to any record in any file — No Limit on Record Lengths.
21. Ledgers are automatically updated after every transaction.
22. All sections of the Programme and files are fully integrated.
23. Some Programmes on the market claim to be easy to use with no need for a manual (BUT TO THE LAYMAN THEY SIMPLY ARE
NOT). "CFACC" really is USER ORIENTATED - WE ARE PREPARED TO LET YOU PROVE THIS FOR YOURSELF. MONEY RE¬
FUNDED IN FULL IF YOU CAN SHOW US A BETTER MICROCOMPUTER ACCOUNTS PROGRAMME WITHIN 7 DAYS OF USE.
24. The PRICE makes "CFACC" the best VALUE FOR MONEY on the Market.
25. Fully tested and debugged. You will receive Free of Charge any Improvements or Modifications we make in the future.
26. All equipment is fully tested by us prior to installation — Normal Guarantees on all Equipment and we only recommend the most
*ble. Service Contracts available. Finance and Leasing a speciality.
27. DELIVERY and INSTALLATION FREE of Complete Packages within the UK.
28 We have examples of other Accounts Programmes on tne market which you are welcome to try and to compare them with 'CFACC'.
29 PETs, APPLEs and TANDYs taken in PART EXCHANGE against Complete Packages. _
64K 'SUPERBRAIN' (350K DISK STORAGE) - DAISYWHEEL PRINTER - "CFACC" ACCOUNTS -
"WORDSTAR" Word Processing.
** ALL FOR £3,986.00**
Computers For All Ltd. Stratford on Avon (0789) 840064
24-Hour Service (not machine) on 021-236 1794 Ext. 224 |
PCW 197
SUPE3BRAIN® SERVICES
IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES
FROM HELISTAR SYSTEMS
Repair and Maintenance
Your SuperBrairf® repaired and maintained on-site
through the Helistar contract maintenance service - our own
engineers cover Central, North and West London, Bucks,
Berks, Oxon, Herts, Northants, Beds, Glos, Warwicks, and
Middx. Also repairs carried out at our workshop on a time
and materials or contract basis.
Upgrades and Modifications
Have your SuperBrain disk system upgraded to QD
(700Kb) or DQD (1,5Mb). Benefit from faster disk accessing
and 40-track capacity with our FASTROM. Improve the
character display with true descenders.
Add on Hardware
GRAPHICS - 512 x 256 high-resolution graphics with the
Micronex PIXELPLOTTER®. PORT-BUFFER®-allowsthe
connection of external devices to the internal Z80 address
and data bus.
Software
Memory-mapped WORDSTAR. This version of WordStar
is specially tailored to take advantage of the SuperBrain's
memory-mapped video giving faster screen display and
smoother scrolling.
Contact us today! Telephone Aylesbury (0296) 630364
Helistar Systems Ltd. 150 Weston Road, Aston Clinton, Aylesbury, Bucks. HP22 5EP
Happy Memories
Part
type
1 off
50-99
100 i
4116
200ns
.95
.85
.75
4116
250ns
.90
.80
.70
2114
200ns
Low power
1.30
1.20
1.10
2114
450ns
Low power
1.25
1.15
1.05
4118
250ns
3.50
3.15
2.95
6116
150ns
CMOS
8.75
8.25
7.95
2708
450ns
1.95
1.75
1.65
2716
450ns
5 volt
2.25
2.05
1.95
2716
450ns
three rail
7.40
7.00
6.75
2732
450ns
Intel type
4.50
4.15
3.95
2532
450ns
Texas type
4.95
4.60
4.40
Z80A-CPU £5.25 Z80A-PIO £4.75
Z80A-CTC £4.75
Low profile IC sockets:
Pins 8 14 16 18 20 22 24 28 40
Pence 9 10 11 14 15 18 19 25 33
Soft-sectored floppy discs per 10 in plastic library case:
5 inch SSDD £17.00 5 inch DSDD £21.00
8 inch SSSD £21.00 8 inch SSDD £26.65
8 inch DSDD £31.75
74LS series TTL, large stocks at low prices with
DIY discounts starting at a mix of just 25
pieces. Write or ’phone for list.
Please add 30p post & packing to orders under £15 and VAT @ 15%.
Access & Barclaycard accepted. 24hr service on (054 422) 618.
Government & Educational orders welcome, £15 minimum. Trade
accounts operated, phone or write for details.
Prices are still tending to drop, ’phone for a quote before you buy.
Happy Memories (PCW),
Gladestry, Kingston, Herefordshire,
HR53NY
Tel: (054 422) 618 or 628
* N£W BROOM FOR £P*0MS*
rex eraser swaps clean /
Eproms need careful treatment to survive their expected lifetime.
Rushing it could burn their brains out. So cop-out of this helter-skelter
world; take it easy the TEX way and give your chips a well-earned break.
Cool, gentle and affordable; EPROMPT does it properly.
★ 16-chip basic economy EPROMPT EB: £32 nett; £39 c. w. o. ★
★ 32-chip interlocked de luxe EPROMPT GT: £40 nett; £49 c. w. o. ★
rexmt
is
Tea-Break Time!
_ /
Our EPROMPT needs just half-an-hour to finish its job; this is the proper
erase time for all Eproms. While it's busy you may as well take a break
yourself, but don't take too long without a timer on the job; over-erasing
can shorten data storage time. So our TEXTIME will remember to turn
out the light and your chips will forget nothing new.
★ 30-minute solid-state TEXTIME M30: £15 nett; £19 c. w. o ★
★ ★ ★ Special Offer EB + M30: £45 nett; £55 c.w.o. ★ ★ ★
★ ★ ★ Special Offer GT- f- M30: £53 nett; £66 c.w.o. it ★ ★
TEX: Reliable quality at affordable prices. We manufacture in the U K. and sell direct.
All items ex-stock from St. Albans or Watford Electronics
C.W.O. Prices include Carriage & VAT. Write post free: BOX 1 1 ;
TEX MICROSYSTEMS LTD. FREEPOST
ST. ALBANS, HERTS All 1BR ST ALBANS 64077;TRING 4797 ANYTIME
198 PCW
If you own or use a micro-computer, then chances are that
from time to time, you’ve wished that someone could simplify
programming.
Because as useful as micro-computers are, they can only ever
be as good as the programs they run.
Well then, how does this sound?
No more program-coding. No more debugging. And no more
time wasting.
Arguably more comprehensive and advanced than anything else
of its kind, The Last One is a computer program that writes computer
programs. Programs that work first time, every time.
By asking you questions in plain English about what you want
your program to do, The Last One uses your answers to generate a
ready-to-use program in BASIC.
What’s more, with The Last One, you can change or modify
your program as often as you wish. Without effort, fuss or any
additional cost. So as your requirements change, your programs
can too.
And if, because of the difficulties and costs of buying, writing
and customising software, you’ve put off purchasing a computer
system up to now, you need delay no longer.
Available now.
The Last One costs £260 + £39 VAT and is now available from
better computer stores.
For further information, write to D.J. ‘AT Systems Ltd.,
Station Road,
Ilminster,
Somerset TA19 9BQ.
Tel: 04605 4117.
PCW 199
THE NEW TEXAS
TI99/4 42K
PERSONAL
COMPUTER
ONLY £275.00
©#©©©®©©
o®®#©®®<»
@ 0 @©© 0 @©
+VAT
LOOK AT THESE FEATURES
9900 16 BIT PROCESSOR 3.5 MHZ • 26K ROM
INCLUDING 14K BASIC • 7.6K GRAPHICS
LANGUAGE INTERPRETER # 4.4K MONITOR •
16K USER RAM (EXPANDABLE TO 48K) ®
EQUATION CALCULATOR • HI-RES GRAPHICS
192 x 256 • 16 COLOURS WITH FORGROUND,
MIDDLE, AND BACK GROUND • FULL MEMORY
MAPPED SCREEN • 5 OCTAVES SOUND FROM
110Hz TO OVER 40000 • 3 SIMULTANEOUS
TONES + NOISE GENERATOR # BUILT IN
LOUDSPEAKER WITH VOLUME CONTROL#
PLUGS INTO ANY STD COLOUR TV (B/W GIVES
SHADES OF GREY) # INTERFACE TO CONTROL
2 CASSETTE PLAYERS (AUTO COPY AND
UPDATE FROM ONE TO THE OTHER) PLUS
MANY MORE SUPER FEATURES # 12 MONTH
GUARANTEE • OPTIONS INCLUDE:- BIG
RANGE OF SOLID STATE PLUG IN SOFTWARE
• RS232 INTERFACE • THERMAL PRINTER #
DISK DRIVES • SPEECH SYNTHESIZER #
JOYSTICKS ETC ETC.
Please send me details and price list.
N a m e __
Address_
_Phone__
I enclose cheque for | | (£316.25 per computer
including £41.25 VAT)
Please c harge my Acc ess/Diners Club Card.
Number ] | ~T f 1 1 11 1 I 1 1 I I
or telephone your card order during shop hours to:-
Watford (0923) 40601.
Signed
Send to The Computer Centre, Watford, Ltd.
150 High Street, Watford, Herts. WD1 2EN
POCKET BOOK
Also suitable for ZX 80 with 8K ROM
* ADVENTURE
- City of Alzan
- Create your own
* TUNNELS & TROLLS
BUCKET CATCHING
•JAWS
BECOME AN ARTIST
•PRO-AM GOLF
PUTTER
ETCH-A-SKETCH
FRUIT MACHINE
With hold
DIGITAL CLOCK
DICE ROLLING
..... plus 20 others .....:xj:;:3
Hints & tips on programming
—Reference Sections
The ZX80 Pocket Book still
available, prices as above.
/flOM BUSINESS
_ Suitable for the expanded Atom with floating point ROM
Each section contains:
— Management Summary
— Operating Instructions
— Program notes
— Source listing
r A p5usr"
jp
fK5@° s ER V
3 DOWNS AVENUE EPSOM Surrey KT185HG
Teh Epsom (03727) 21215 quoting your credit
card reference. 24 Hour phone service. Air Mail
delivery in Europe add 50p, air mail elsewhere
add £1.50 per book. Prices shown above include
UK postage and VAT on cassettes
200 PCW
J
Rent a Computer'
)id you know you can rent
a computer for as little as
£2.76 per week (ACORN
ATOM).
Minimum Rental 12
nonths. Written quotation
on request. Please phone
for details.
Y
monitors
6 TU's ••
COLOUR TV S by
•FERGUSON, JVC,
* MITSUBISHI,
PANASONIC,
TOSHIBA.
PANASONIC TC492
Colour TV 12"
£199.00 *
SHARP B/W12" TV
£54.90
DECCA14" COLOUR
£250.00
MONITORS
9"0.PC.GREEN
£95.00
9" APFB/W
£85.00
9" HITACHI B/W
£112.17
12" BMC
£180.00
12"NECGREEN
£159.00
12"NECCOLOUR
£579.00
(Please add VAT to prices above)^
mail □rder Accessaries
All items listed are available through our fast efficient mail
order service. If you find our prices are not competitive
than we will be pleased to match any genuine offer in this
magazine.
P&P Rates: a 0.75 b 1.00 cl.50 d 2.50
ACORN
Colour Encoder 20.00 a
Floating Point Rom 20.00 a
Memory Chips ea 1.95 a
Magic Book 5.50 c
Printer Drive 9.00 a
Printer Buffer 2.50 a
Utility 10.00 a
VDU 10.00 a
Maths Pack 10.00 a
Games Packs 1 to 7 10.00 a
Word Pack Rom 26.00 a
APPLE (Please ring for software
not listed)
Visicalc (new 16 sector) 111.00b
Visiplot 100.00 b
Visitrend/Visiplot 144.00 b
Visidex 111.00b
Cisobol 475.00 b
Desk Top Plan 65.00 b
Micro Modeller 425.00 b
APM 121.00 b
Writer 39.00 b
Magic Window 79.00 b
BOOKS (Send SAE for full list)
Acorn Magic
Microsoft Basic
Basic Basic
Learning Level II
Basic Handbook
Introduction to Pascal
Programming in Pascal
CP/M Handbook
Programming &
Interfacing 65 02
Programming the 65 02
Basic Computer Games
Basic A Unit for
Secondary Schools
More Basic Computer
Games
Making Most of ZX80
Machine Language from
ground up
Getting Aquainted with
yourVIC20 5.95c
Getting Aquainted with
yourAcomAtom 7.95c
ZX81 Companion 7.95c
ZX81 Pocket Book 4.95c
MEMORY CHIPS
4116 (Apple, Sharp) ea 1.50 a
2114(Acorn) ea1.95a
4027 [V?K Sharp) ea0.50a
5.50 c
8.95 c
8.25 c
11.00 c
11.00 c
8.75 c
6.95 c
8.95 c
8.95 c
9.10c
5.50 c
6.25 c
6.95 c
VIDEO GENIE
Sound Mod
Colour Mod
Synthesiser
EG 3013 Expander
EG 3013/RS232
Lower Case
Dust Cover
Invaders
Biorhythm
Battle of Britain
Pinball
Pools
Imon
Sargon II chess
Startrek
Z chess 3
Adventure Sampler
Adventure 1 to 9
Haniball
Android Nim
Tables
SHARP
CE 121 Cassette
Interface
CE 122 Printer
Interface
Assembler Tapes 8i
Manual
Machine Language tape
& Manual
Speed Basic
Biorhythm
Autocross
Hanoi
Fox & Geese
Four in a Row
Moonlander
Composer
Bank Account
Posiedon
Address Book
Anagrams
Dust Cover
7.50 a
39 46 b
45.00 b
185 00 d
215.00 d
35.00 b
5.55 a
13.00 a
7.50 a
13.50 a
13.00 a
13.50 a
23.10 a
25.00 a
9 50 a
14.50 a
6.50 a
8.75 a
13.50 a
8.75 a
6.50 a
CALCUBET - Complete
Bookmaker Bet
Calculation programme,
various versions available!*
Phone for details.
APPLE
Games Pack 1 (Disc
5games) 12.50a"
Games Pack 2 (Disc
5games) 12.50a (
VIDEO GENIE
Games Pack (5 games on
Cassette) 10.00a
Education Pack 1 (3-6 year
old on Cassette) 10.00a |
20 44 b
41 40 b
10.00 a
4.00 a
4.00 a
4.00 a
4.00 a
5.00 a
5.00 a
4.00 a
5.00 a
5.00 a
4.00 a
3.00 a
5.00 a
P3PrinterDustCover 5.00a
Picture Count
CountEt Add
MatchtheWord
Character Match
Head On
5.00a
5.00a
5.00a
5.00a
6.00a
SUPERIOR SYSTEMS
SOFTWARE
SHARP
Games Pack 1 (5 games on
Cassette) 10.00a
Games Pack 2 (5 games on
Cassette) 10.00a
Hardware
SYSTEMS BY
ADLER, APPLE, ACORN,
PANASONIC, SHARP,
VIDEO GENIE.
iiiimSS ’
SHARP
PC1211 POCKET
SHARP MZ80K(20K)
SHARP MZ80K(48K)
(Plus €25 worth of free Software)
SHARP M780B164K)
ACORN
ATOM KIT8K ROM + 2K RAM
ATOM ASSEMBLED 8K ROM
+ 2K RAM
ATOM KIT12K ROM + 12K RAM
ATOM ASSEMBLED 12K ROM
+ 12K RAM £253.00
POWERSUPPLY £1100
APPLE 11 (48K) £695.00
ADLER SYSTEMS FROM £1560.00
VIDEO GENIE (16K) £275.00
COMMODORE VIC 20 P.O.A
VIDEOGENIE Model2 £355 00
ALL ABOVE PRICES INCLUSIVE
OFPEtP Please add VAT.
£79.00
£390 00
£405.00
£153.00
£223 00
Please add p&p and then VAT @ 15%
(Zero VAT on Books)
COMPUTER ACCESSORIES
C12 Digital Cassettes. Box of 10 £7.90
5V* Discs Single Sided Double Denisty.
Box of 10 £20.00
5V4 Double Sided Double Density.
Box of 10 £32.00
SHARPSpeed Basic £10.00
Please add P&P (75p) & VAT
for above Accessories.
Peripherals
PRINTERS
SEIKOSHA GP80 £195.00
EPSON MX70 £259.00
EPSON MX80F/T £399.00
MICROLINE 83 £799.00
CENTRONICS 737 £395.00
SHARP MZ80P 3 £379.00
SHARP MZ80P 5 £415.00
EPSON MX 100 £575.00
EPSON MX130 POA
EPSON MX80F/T2 £480.00
DISK DRIVES
SHARP DUAL DRIVE £580.00
VIDEO GENIE SINGLE DRIVE £215.00
VIDEO GENIE DUAL DRIVE £410.00
INTERFACE UNITS
A WIDE RANGE OF INTERFACES ARE
AVAILABLE EX-STOCK
WESTRA COMPUTER STATION
DESKS IN STOCK
(Please add VAT to prices above)
interest Free and
Lease Purchasing Ran
3 MONTHS
INTEREST FREE CREDIT
AVAILABLE ON ALL ITEMS
OVER £300. PLEASE PHONE
FOR DETAILS. LEASE
PURCHASE SYSTEMS FOR AS
’LITTLE AS £10 PER WEEK!
r Superior Systems Lid. b
178, WEST STREET, SHEFFIELD SI 4ET TEL: 0742 755005
LSO AT: QUADRAPHENIA, 19 BRADFORD ROW, (HALLGATE) DONCASTER
. DN1 3NF TEL: 0302 21215
* * Business Hours: Sheffield Mon-Sat 9am-5.15pm Doncaster Mon-Sat 10am-5.00pm * > +
4 f
COMPUTER PRODUCTS LTD
The North’s Leading Computer
Specialist
Service & Advice our Speciality
Quantum micros
HIGH RESOLUTION
GRAPHICS FOR MZ 80K
Available Now
At £150 +VAT
Resolution down
to a single dot. User definable
characters. Reverse Video. New Pixel graphics
which actually join. Rotate Characters through
360°. High resolution plotting. Three
dimensional drawing & high resolution rotates
Fixes internally and is fully compatable with all
existing hardware & software. Comprehensive
graphics editor with twenty commands. Fully
built and tested units, easily installed or
alternatively we will arrange for installation.
★ Quantum MZ 80K High Res. ★
This is a Sharp MZ 80K (48K Version) already
fitted with high resolution system.
Only £500 (Carriage £10) + VAT
MZ80KONLY £430 + VAT
Dola Software
117 BLENHEIM ROAD, DEAL , KENT
ATOM MUSIC!!!! Supplied on tape. Graphics 6K. Program + tune storage
4%K. NO extra hardware so single note. Look at these features:- A powerful
music 'processor' with high-res graphics display of notes (over 700). Tune
entry with full editing. Linked notes, dotted notes and rests. KEY
SIGNATURE, SPEED, TEMPO, PLAY, PLAYX, LIST, LISTX, FORWARD
ONE, BACKWARD ONE, GO TO END OF STAVE, GO TO END OF TUNE,
DELETE NOTE, INSERT NOTE, COPY SECTION, CHANGE, NORMALISE.
All commands on direct interpretation — no need to go to a menu every time!
Double sharp, double flat etc. Automatic stepping past either end of stave!
DISPLAY tune, or not, when being played. Tune deletion double protected!
INCLUDES an input to high-res graphics for clear interaction!!
Marvellous for composing your own music — or just copying tunes.
Demonstration music included. Sounds great. £10
ATOM MATRICES. Supplied on tape. Program 4y 2 K. Graphics V 2 K. Matrix
Ttorage - the more the better. We use the upper text space and can deal with
matrices up to 25x25.
This is FULLY interpretative (no menu) with a powerful extra (see below).
MULTI-STATEMENT lines with semi-colon separation! Matrix functions:-
MULTIPLY, ADD, SUBTRACT, INVERSE, PRINT, SACLAR MULTIPLY.
All numbers may be floating point. All matrices are stored and may be used
again at any time. FULL error checking. Also included in the interpreted
commands are:- PRINTER ON, PRINTER OFF, PRINTOUT FORMAT.
POWERFUL EXTRA (included). Machine code floating point formatter!!
1.00000000 becomes 1 Makes formatting EASY. Number of digits
1.30000000E-1 becomes 0.13 required is software selectable. Simple
All possibilities handled. indication if number doesn't fit format.
£10
UK 101 FRONT PANEL. Supplied on tape.
A powerful machine code program to display and change all the 6502 registers
and memory locations. Each location is displayed in Hex, Decimal, Binary and
Character (as for POKE). Full screen editing is used as with the monitor. The
memory locations automatically move along when entering programs. This will
be of great value to anyone writing machine code programs, and can co-exist
with the extended monitor. As well as normal entry the front panel can also
be entered by a break point in your program — giving a display of the present
state of all registers. PLUS a facility for 'continue' after break! Great for de¬
bugging. As a BONUS a BASIC program is included which allows relocation of
the front panel. Written for the new monitor and Cegmon (please specify).
£10
All the rest of the Dola Software library will be sent on receipt of a large SAE.
NORTH EAST
FULL RANGE OF EPSON PRINTERS AT
COMPETITIVE PRICES.
Interfacing details & Cords available for
Nascom & Sharp.
Full Range of NASCOM & GEMINI
MULTIBOARD products, see the MICRO
VALUE Ads for details.
^11 Software for MZ80K £7.00 each
GAMES (1 ) Star Trek, Spacefighter, Stock car, Labyrinth, Reverse, Test
GAMES (2) Electric organ, Othello, Ambush, Fox & hounds. Metric
conversions, Hangman, Shuffle.
GAMES (3) Ten pin, War, Swamp. Minefield, Biorythm, Scramble
GAMES (4) Paper stone, Jumping balls, Bounce, Race, Calendar.
Alarm clock, One armed bandit.
GAMES (5) Poker, Stamp, Obstacle, Battleships, Surround, Animal.
PCI 211 POCKET COMPUTER
£96.00 inc VAT
PCI 211 POCKET COMPUTER
PRINTER £88.00 inc VAT
PCI211 CASS INTERFACE
£16.95 inc VAT
BITS ft P.C.s Computer Products Ltd.
4 Westgate, Wetherby, West Yorkshire
LS22 4LL Tel: 0937 63744.
SAE for details
J
ACORN - VIDEO GENIE-SWIPC
Acorn Atom .... From £120
Video Genie .... From £299
PRINTERS
Seikosha GP80 (with paper)... £199
Epson, Anadex, Qume, & Others
MONITORS
12" Green Phosphor.... £79
DISC DRIVES
For All Micros
We supply components, cables, plugs,
connectors, cassettes, discs & paper
500 sheets 8" x 11" fanfold paper for
Seikosha GP80 - £5.50
FULL maintenance service available
All above prices exclude VAT to be
applied at 15% - FREE delivery
FOR FULL DETAILS, INFORMATION & PRICES
CONTACT
HCCS ASSOCIATES
533 DURHAM ROAD LOW FELL
GATESHEAD TYNE & WEAR
(0632)821924
202 PCW
n
{ j
i 1 I
Announce
[niBfSEFLfliriEK
- the program that gives microcomputer users a mainframe capability
- at a fraction of the cost.
Specifically written for the Apple 11, Micro Planner plans and controls
projects which require accurate co-ordination of interdependent operations
and inputs.
Micro Planner uses the powerful technique of Network Analysis (or P.E.R.T.)
to enable operators with no previous computer experience to control complex
projects on site.
CONSTRUCTION - private housing to oil rigs
EVENTS - exhibitions, sports meetings, air displays.
NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES
RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT
SHIPPING - building and refit.
MILITARY - planning operations. ETC., ETC.,
We believe that Micro Planner is a superb program which in
many respects revolutionises the use of the microcomputer
allowing it to achieve its maximum potential with an economy
and flexibility unobtainable with larger systems.
■ 1^11 ■ ^To: Datalink Microcomputer Systems Limited
MW ■ Please send me detailed information about Micro Planner
IIHIHLINn I:™ i
Microcomputer Systems Limited ■ |
10, Waring House, Redcliffe Hill, I ®
Bristol BS1 6TB. Tel: Bristol (0272) 213427 | Te , No . |
PCW 203
ofiewBear
Limited
Newbear is the biggest Sharp dealer in the country.
FOR THE MZ-80K HARDWARE
MZ80-K 48K RAM
£410.00
MZ80-K 48K RAM
£410.00
MZ80K-FD DUAL DISC UNIT
£589.00
M280K-P3 PRINTER
£385.00
MZ80K 105 SLOT 1/0 BOX
f 87 on
Bl DIRECT. V24/RS232 CARD
£99.50
UNIVERSAL 1/0 CARD
£45.00
RS232 1/0 BOX WITH PSU
f 84 95
(SINGLE DIRECT NO 1/0 BOX REQD. 0/P ONLY)
UTILITY PACKAGES
APOLLO WORD PROCESSOR V1.9
- £24.95
ANIMATE - £5.50
CASSETTE DATABASE - £29.50
BASIC EXTENSIONS - £13.00
ARDENSOFT TOOLKIT - £35.00
CP/M (INCLUDES HARDWARE MOD.,
CP/M DISC & FULL
DOCUMENTATION) - £150.00
ZEN EDITOR/ASSEMBLER - £19.50
SHARP EDITOR/ASSEMBLER
- £45.00
ZEN-D0S - £37.50
SHARP MACHINE CODE TAPE &
MANUAL - £22.50
DISSASSEMBLER (ZEN COMPATIBLE)
- £10.50
CRYSTAL BASIC - £40.00
SUPER COPY - £10.50
PROGRAM FILING INDEX - £5.50
MUSIC COMPOSER-EDITOR
- £10.50
DOUBLE PRECISION BASIC FOR THE
MZ80K DISC SYSTEM - £4.00
PASCAL SP4015 (CASSETTE)
- £50.00
ACCESSORIES
MZ80-K MANUALS
MONITOR LISTING (COMMENTED) - £ 15.00
BASIC 5025 MANUAL - £7.00
MZ80-K SERVICE MANUAL - £7.50
MZ80 10 SERVICE MANUAL - £5.00
MZ-80P3 SERVICE MANUAL - £7.50
MZ-80FD SERVICE MANUAL - £10.00
MZ80-K DUST COVER - £9.95
SEND
FOR FULL
CATALOGUE
GAMES BOOKS. WORD PROCESSING. EDUCATION
PRINTERS. DISCS. + THE LATEST MZ-80B!
GAMES
ANIMATE
£5.50
GUESS WORD
£5.50
RACING
£5.50
BLOCKADE
-
£5.50
GUN
-
£5.50
RACETRACK
-
£5.50
BOMBER
-
£5.50
HANGMAN
-
£5.50
RAIDER
—
£5.50
BREAKOUT
-
£5.50
HEADON
-
£5.50
REACTOR
-
£5.50
CAMEL0T
-
£5.50
HOME BUDGET
-
£5.50
ROAD HUNTER
-
£8.00
CATCH 2000/INVADER
-
£5.50
HUNTER KILLER
-
£5.50
RHYMES
-
£5.50
CHESS
-
£10.50
INTRUDER
-
£5.50
SHAPEMATCH
-
£5.50
COMBAT
-
£5.50
J.S. LINE 4
-
£5.50
SHARP DEMO(GRAPHICS)
CONCENTRATION
-
£5.50
LARGE DISPLAY
-
£5.50
-
£5.50
CRIBBAGE
-
£10.50
LIFE
-
£8.00
SHOWJUMPING
-
£5.50
DONKEY DERBY
-
£5.50
LUNAR
-
£5.50
SNAKES & LADDERS
-
£5.50
ELECTRONIC ORGAN
-
£5.50
LUNAR LANDER
-
£5.50
SPACE BATTLE
—
£5.50
ENIGMA
-
£5.50
MAP OF ENGLAND
-
£5.50
SPACE INVADERS
-
£5.50
EVASION
-
£5.50
MASTERMIND
-
£5.50
SPACE PURSUIT
-
£5.50
EXECUTIVE
-
£8.00
MIZ MAZE
-
£8.50
STAR TREK
-
£5.50
EXPLORING AFRICA
-
£5.50
MONKEY CLIMB
-
£5.50
STOMPER
-
£5.50
FALL OUT
-
£5.50
MORTAR ATTACK
-
£5.50
SUBMARINE
-
£5.50
FIREBALLS
-
£5.50
PATIENCE
-
£5.50
SUPER FIRE
-
£5.50
4 INAROW
-
£5.50
POKER
-
£5.50
SUPER SIMON
-
£5.50
FRUIT MACHINE
-
£5.50
PONTOON
-
£5.50
SWORDMAN
-
£8.00
GRAPHICS/MUSIC PACK
PRINCESS & MONSTER
MAZE
TANKWARP/WALL
-
£5.50
-
£5.50
-
£5.50
TEN PIN BOWLING
—
£5.50
TYCOON
-
£5.50
3D
-
£5.50
TRADER SMITH
-
£8.00
U.F.O.
-
£5.50
EDUCATIONAL PACKAGES
TIMETABLING AID -£19.50
CHILDRENS MATHS - £5.50
PHONE FOR LATEST LIST
BUSINESS PACKAGES
STOCK CONTROL (DISC) -£95.00
MAILING LIST (DISC) -£19.50
MAILING LIST (CASSETTE) - £14.50
Please add V.A.T. to all prices
Newbear Limited. (Head Office) 40 Bartholomew St., Newbury, Berks.
Tel: (0635) 30505. Telex: 848-507 NCS
Newbear Limited. First Floor Offices: Tivoli Centre, Coventry Road,
Birmingham.
Tel: (021)707-8255
Newbear Limited. Stockport Road, Cheadle Heath, Manchester.
Tel: (061) 491-2290
Please send me details of _
I
I
I-
| Name_
| Company.
I Address —
I
; pew
New and popular
Sams books
Sams Books Stockists
Byteshop Computerland Ltd.
P.O. Box 2
St Neots
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge Computer Store
1 Emmanuel Street
Cambridge
Datron Micro Centre
2 Abbeydale Road
Snettieia, S7 1FD
Micro-C
5-11 Martineau Wa>
Union Street
Birmingham
Micro-C
127 Charles Street
Leicester
Micro-C
19 Brown Street
Manchester
J. Downey and S. Rogers
PET Interfacing
This practical book explains how specialised
interfaces can be built and used with the PET
computer. It covers three types of interfacing:
the user port, the memory expansion port,
and the IEEE 488 port.
£11.85 672-21795-3
Elmer C. Poe and James C. Goodwin, II
The S-100 and Other Micro Buses:
2nd Edition
21 of the most widely used bus systems are
fully described, including their mechanical
data, pinout designations and bus signal
definitions, as well as various ways to convert
different bus signals to S-100 signals.
Expansion boards for the APPLE and the
PET are also discussed.
£6.95 672-21810-0
Micro-C
2 Wheeler Gate
Nottingham
Newbear Computing Bookstore
40 Bartholomew Street
Newbury
Berkshire
Silicon Centre
Pictaural Electronics Ltd
21 Comely Bank Road
Edinburgh 4
Stephen Murtha and Mitchell Waite
CP/M™ Primer
£8.35 672-21791-0
Andrew C. Staugaard, Jr.
How to Program and Interface the
6800
£11.15 672-21684-1
Tomorrow's World
Grafton Arcade
Grafton Street
Dublin 2
David Fox and Mitchell Waite
Pascal Primer
£1 1.85 672-21793-7
Marvin L. De Jong
Programming and Interfacing the
6502, with Experiments
£11.15 672-21651-5
Don Lancaster
Son of Cheap Video
£6.25 672-21723-6
William Barden, Jr.
Z-80 Microcomputer Handbook
£6.25 672-21500-4
Prices are correct at the time of going to
press but may be subject to change. All titles
advertised are published as paperback books.
Dealer enquiries are welcome:
Please contact Roy Jones at the address
below or telephone: Hemel Hempstead
(0442) 58531.
Prentice-Hall l£l rJ international
66 Wood Lane End. Hemel Hempstead.
Hertfordshire HP2 4RG. England.
Exclusive distributors of Howard W. Sams
books in the UK and Europe.
PCW 205
APPLE:: PET::TRS
1 Software
^DUNPNQUEST
lemple or Apshai
Graphics!
(Apple uses high-
resolution & color!)
Real time!
A fantasy role-playing
experience!
For ages 10 through adult
Complexity: Intermediate
Playing time: 30 minutes to
forever!
I Temple of Apehai during play on the ^ or on€
I Apple computer.
Now, you can enter a universe in which
quick wit, the strength of your sword arm
and a talisman around your neck might be
what separates you from a pharoah’s price¬
less treasure — or the death-grip mandibles
of a giant mantis.
“Temple..is a role-playing game (RPG)
that catapults you into a world of magic and
monsters—-doomed cities and damsels in
distress. More than a game, it’s an alter-ego
experience. In an RPG, complex factors that
make up a human being are abstracted into
a few basic characteristics: strength, con¬
stitution, dexterity, intelligence and ego. Via
your role-playing character, you’ll venture
into an essentially unknown world, and be
at home with the likes of skeletons, zombies,
spiders and wraiths. You’ll bargain with a
tight-fisted innkeeper for the weapons and
armor you’ll need in the dunjon.
When you play the “Temple of Apshai,”
you’ll be both a character within and a
reader of the epic you’re actually helping
to create. In this labyrinth, the choice is
always yours... fight or flee, parry or thrust,
slay the monsters or see if they’ll listen
to reason.
After you’ve bargained for your sword,
armor, shield and your bow and arrows,
most of your time in the dunjon will be spent
explonng the 200 rooms on four different
levels... trying to find 80 types of treasures
of priceless worth. But wait — the treasures
are surrounded by traps — needles, daggers,
flames and bottomless pits —closely guarded
by monsters vile and noxious. Do you dare
to thrust your broadsword at the giant
leech, the skeletal bat, the zombies or the
ghouls with mouths full of razor fangs?
We invite you to project yourself into the
labyrinth. See and touch the treasures, hear
| and smell the creatures that inhabit the
place. Discover for yourself the fantasy
| world of Apshai!
M LG RAY
ALGRAY House, 33 Bradbury Street Barnsley.
South Yorkshire Tel: Barnsley (0226) 83199
TR880
18k Lll;
PET 38k |
Casa
14.951
TR8DQ8I
38k;
APPLE
48k
CDiakJ
16.951
All pric
include p
and V./
OOOOOOC
8828S&
85888}
liplll
oooooool
For the best PET software...
QCMMAND-O.
DISK-O-FRO_
KRAM.
SPACEMAKER IV
" USER I/O
PRONTO-FET_
For Basic IV CBM/FET, 39 functions £59.95 + Vat
with improved 'Toolkit" aoamands
For Basic II PET, adds 25 oocnands £59.95 + Vat
including Basic IV, in one 4K rum
For any 32K FET/CBM for retrieving £86.95 + Vat
disk data by KEYED Random Access
For any PET/CBM, nounts 1-4 rums £29.95 + Vat
in one rom slot, switch selection
For software selection of up to 8 £12.95 + Vat
rums, in any two Spacemaker Quads
Soft /hard reset for 40-column EETs £9.99 + Vat
SUPERKRAM, REQUEST & KRAM PLUS will be available shortly
We are sole IK Distributors for these products, vhich are available
from your local CBM cfealer, or direct from us by mail or telephone
order. To order by cheque write to: Calco Software, FREEPOST,
Kingston-njpon-Thames, Surrey KT2 7® (no stanp required). Far same-day
Access/Barelaycard service, telephone 01-546-7256. Official orders
accepted from educational, government & local authority establishments
.. .at the best prices!
WORDPRO IV PLUS RRP
WORDPRO III PLUS RRP
WORDPRO II PLUS RRP
VISICALC RRP
TOOLKIT Basic IV RRP
TOOLKIT Basic EE RRP
£395 less £98.75 = £296.25!
£275 less £68.75 - £206.25!
£125 less £31.25 = £93.75!
£125 less £25.00 = £100.00!
£34 less £9.50 = £24.50!
£29 less £7.25 = £21.75!
The items above are available by mail or telephone order at our
Special Offer Price when purchased with any one of our software
products. This offer is for a LIMITED PERIOD only. IK - AH) 15% VAT.
OVERSEAS airmail postage - add £3.00 (Europe), £5.00 (outside Europe).
Cakca Software
Lakeside House - Kingston Hill - Surrey - KT2 7QT Tel 01-546-7256
Rumour has it that we sell
microcomputers . . .
But we also supply:
Complete Business Systems
Wordprocessors
Bespoke software
Packaged software
Printers
Accessories
Full after sales support
Sound advice
Don’t believe everything you
read in the press though-
Find out for yourself.
THE AVERY
COMPUTER COMPANY
13 The Mall
Bar Hill, Cambridge.
Tel: Crafts Hill 80991
_ J
206 PCW
EXPLORER 85
For Maximum flexibility
A thoroughly versatile SI 00 based computer
Arrange your own microsystem
with the following fully 64K
MOTHER BOARD 8085 cpu-3.5MHz 2K Monitor,
Cassette Interface, SI00 bus connectors and
circuitry, provision for ROM/EPROM.£165 00
AP-1 POWER SUPPLY UNIT 5AMP power supply. £35.00
KEY BOARD TERMINAL Stand alone, cpu
controlled IK RAM, 64/32 x16 format, 128
arecter upper & lower case, full cursor control. . £130.00
64K DYNAMICS-100 RAM CARD.£175.00
FLOPPY DISK CONTROL CARD controls 4
drives 2 serial I/O ports 2716 PROM socket.£165.00
RUNS under resident 8K BASIC in ROM. £65.00
or with Disk System under CP/M2.2.£95.00
• 10" Black & white monitor.
• Ideal for Apple. Nascom. UK 101
and more £79.95
• 10 MHZ band width
• Metal cabinet 9" x 9" x 9.5"
Expansion Cards
SJ64K SI00 Dynamic Ram Card
16K from £130 48K from £145
32K from £160 64K from £175
SI00 SS16K Board
Add memory beyond the 64K limit
Expand to a multi terminal system
Bank selectable £165
ELECTRIC MOUTH S100
"DIGITALK" cards. Give your
computer a voice! Complete with
loudspeaker. Versions also available
for ELF11: APPLE: & TRS-80
ASSEMBLED & TESTED . £99.50
p&p £2.00
• Trade enquiries welcome.
Disks
8 Control Data Corporation
Professional Drives
• LSI controller
• Single density 400K
• Double density 800K
• Access time 25 ns £350
Controller I/O S100 card
• Up to 4 drives
• 1771 ALSI floppy disk controller
• On board data separation.IBM compatible
• 2716 PROM socket
• On board I/O Baud rate
• Two serial I/O ports £165
• Generates to 9600 Baud
• Disk drive cabinet P.S.U. £79
• Cable set £19
• Coming shortly. Hard disks.
Printers
ELF 11
A great beginner's computer
for as little as £49.95
Ideal for controller systems
Extra low power RCA Cosmac 1102
• For engineer and industry
• Learn to programme in machine
understand computer systems
• Expand it to meet your requirement up to 64k
RAM working in basic level 111
• Oki Microline £299
• Serial Interface £75 extra
• Centronics 737-2 £399
737-4 £429
• Other models available
• Starters pack - Elf 11 and RF modulator and
T. Pitmans short course for £56.70
• Expansion Kits. Full Range available. Hardware. Firmware
• Software. Manuals. Send S.A.E. for literature
NEWTRONICS
255 ARCHWAY ROAD,
LONDON, N.6TEL: 01 348 3325
SEND SAE FOR COMPREHENSIVE BROCHURE
Please add VAT to all prices. P&P extra. Please make cheques and postal orders pay¬
able to NEWTRONICS or phone your order quoting BARCLAYCARD, ACCESS
number.
We are open for demonstrations and Sales. Monday-Saturday 9.30 a.m.-6.30 p.m.
Near Highgate Underground on main A1 into London.
The latest and indeed the greatest
of the Kansas Arcade series
ARCADE SCRAMBLE
r o r
Vi^r° n di
Don't waste your time playing the simple starts
to the Big Five games — get straight into the heavy
action with this brand-new multi-action, home grown
'Arcade' game.
Yes, it's the famous one of the Arcades, and the
first time it's ever been achieved on a computer.
Not that easy though, for without warning sudden¬
ly there's a squadron of enemy fighters heading
straight at you hell bent on your destruction. Then
comes the ack-ack flung at you from the ground
batteries to add to your difficulties, and there's the
cluster of blimbs to make things even more difficult.
But the real nasties are the rockets, which the
enemy blast at you, without warning, from the ground
installations.
Even if you manage to out-shoot, out-fight, out-
maneuver that little lot, you still have the mountains
to negotiate which is a problem with the fighters
streaming through the only available space.
But with this really unbelievable game, you have
no less than six different controls at your fingertips
being able to move your bomber forward, backward,
up and down, whilst at the same time both firing
your guns at the enemy and bombing the installations.
And not only do you have infinite control over the
bomber, but the ground and enemy installations
continuously unfold below, with valleys and mountains
actually moving across the screen, giving an hitherto
undreamed of realism.
The installations include rocket launch pads, ack-
ack batteries, forts, munition dumps and fuel dumps.
You do your damnest to destroy these as they unfold
below, so building up your score.
The famed Mike Chalk who created Arcade Invaders
and U-Boat Strike, has teamed up with Chris Smyth to
create this fantastic machine language Arcade game.
There is so much happening it really is unbelievable
with sound adding to the realism of this ultra-fast
moving game.
IT'S ONLY FROM KANSAS £9.50
All prices VAT paid and post free. First class return post service. Barclay-
card. Visa orders dispatched same day if phoned in by 3pm. Answering
machine ordering service after 6pm and Sundays to allow use of cheap
rate. Catalogue available on request.
* Kansas City Systems, Unit 3, Sutton Springs Wood, Chesterfield, DerbysJel 0246 850357
* SOFTWARE * PERIPHERALS
* COMPUTER CHESS GAMES
(FULL RANGE IN STOCK)
Dept. PCW. 50 Newton St.,Off Piccadilly,
Manchester Ml 2EA. Tel: 061 236 3083.
WE ARE AT THE CORNER NEWTON ST./ HILTON ST.
MICRO SPEECH 2
DOES YOUR COMPUTER
SPEAK TO YOU?
MICROSPEECH 2 is a stand alone speech synthesizing unit. It
converts phonetic code or any ASCII text into a speech output.
MICROSPEECH 2 may be interfaced to any computer system
because all the computation necessary to synthesize speech is
performed by its own dedicated microprocessor. Up to one
thousand phonetic characters, representing about one minute
of speech, may be assembled in the units internal buffer before
it is commanded to speak.
FEATURES
• Runs from phonetic
code, giving unlimited
vocabulary and simple
operating software.
• Optional English to
phonetics translator
allows operation directly
from ordinary text.
• Uses standard RS232/
V24 interface.
• Totally self contained
with internal loudspeaker
and power supply.
• No need to worry about
complex interfacing or
support software.
PRICE
Phonetic model £875.00 +
VAT
Phonetic model plus Eng¬
lish to phonetics translator
£950.00 + VAT
COSTRONICS ELECTRONICS 13 Pield Heath Avenue,
Hillingdon, Middlesex Uxbridge (89) 38791
TIM ORR DESIGN CONSULTANT
55 Drive Mansions, Fulham Rd, London SW6
(01) 7312077
208 PCW
THE
COMPUTER BOOK SHOP
RUN BY PEOPLE WHO KNOW COMPUTERS
LION MICRO COMPUTERS
NEW
COMPUTER BOOK SHOP
(ALSO STOCKING HI-FI, VIDEO AND C/B BOOKS)
LONDON'S LARGEST
SELECTION OF COMPUTER
BOOKS
PLUS ALL THE HARD TO GET COMPUTER MAGAZINES
OPEN MONDAY to SATURDAY 9-6 PLUS
THURSDAY LATE CLOSING 9-7
GROUND FLOOR
LION HOUSE
227 TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD
LONDON W1
TEL: 01-580 7383
SEND SAE FOR FULL CURRENT LIST - BETTER STILL, CALL IN.
PCW 209
The Osborne Library of
Microcomputer Books
We’ve reduced the prices of nearly all the great titles in the Osborne
series. Now you can get the same standard of practical, accurate
guidance you’ve come to expect from Osborne — but for less!
Our best selling titles include:—
44-6 CP/M User’s Guide £9.50
21-7 Z80 Assembly Language Programming £11.95
27-6 6502 Assembly Language Programming £11.95
55-1 PET/CBM Personal Computer Guide 2/e £10.95
47-0 The Business System Buyer’s Guide £5.95
46-2 Apple II User’s Guide £10.95
34-9 An Introduction to Microcomputers: Vol 1 Basic
Concepts 2/e £9.50
42- X Osborne 4 & 8-Bit Microprocessor Handbook £14.50
43- 8 Osborne 16-Bit Microprocessor Handbook £14.50
All Osborne titles are available through your local bookseller, or direct
from the publisher, so make the most of our price reductions and your
computer today!
McGraw-Hill Book Company (UK) Limited, Shoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 2QL.
now even cheaper! 3
C3==> I
CUBIT
wire wrap tails
pushed into host socket
securing screw
host microcomputer
CU-MEM — UNIVERSAL MEMORY
Up to 64K of byte-wide standard memory
NM0S RAM, battery-backed CMOS RAM,
ROM, EPROM, EEPR0M
CU-MEM has eight sockets arranged in two independent
banks, each of which can be filled with 24 or 28 pin industry
standard memory devices in IK, 2K, 4K or 8K bytes sizes.
CUBIT — VERSATILITY PLUS
This Eurocard carries 4K RAM, 4K ROM/EPROM, a VIA
6522 i/o chip and a DIN connector to the Acorn Euro-bus. It
can be used.
★ as a 6502-based single board microcomputer
★ as an extension to AIM 65 and similar computers
★ as a peripheral to a CUBIT or other computer
CUBIT and CU-MEM are fully compatible with the Acorn
range of Eurocards (eg VDU, disk, analog)
Control Universal supply CUBIT, CU-MEM, and all Acorn and
Rockwell products.
Control Universal Ltd, 11/15 Bush House,
Bush Fair, Harlow, Essex.
Tel: 0279 31604/412043.
210 PCW
/MjlCROTEK COMPUTER SERVICES"^
MICROTEK INTRODUCE THE
'MICOM 8r
THE 'STATE OF THE ART' MICRO-COMPUTER SYSTEM.
* 4 MHZ Z80A CPU!
* 18 Slot S100 Mainframe!
* 32 MB or 96 MB CMD Hard Disk Storage!
* Up to 768K Dynamic or 384K Static RAM with Bank Switching!
* 2, 4 or 8 port Serial and Parallel I/O boards!
* 8" Double Density Floppy Disk Drives, (optional)!
* IBM Compatable Communications!
* Rugged and Reliable Rack Housing!
The 'MICOM 81' system will run CPM, (if you really must!) or
‘ MVT FAMOS '
The most powerful and versatile multi-tasking, multi-user 8-bit operating system currently available! You don't
believe us? Well we have a large international bank using this system with 6 terminals and 2 printers in a 'Real
Time' trading application!
Do you know of a UNIX, MPM, MBOS, OASIS or any other 8-bit 'multi-user' operating system, that you can get
demonstrated doing the same? Well neither do we!
The 'MICOM 81' system is also currently being used in one of this country's leading universities, and in many
other different types of industrial and commercial applications.
Prices start from as little as £7,000 and OEM enquiries are welcome.
For further details phone Orpington 26803/36228 or write to Microtek Computer
Services, 50 Chislehurst Road, Orpington, Kent, BR5 ODJ.
PCW 211
fr
S T Commercial Systems Ltd
Brain Specialists
Simplify all your accounting
Sales, Purchases, Invoicing,
Payrole, Stock control
VAT Reports
Even Trial ballances and
P 8c L Accounts
SuperBrain can work as a word processor
Provide All Tektronix type and graphics
and even emulate a Tektronix terminal.
■ Communications to most mainframes and MINIS
■ Runs IBM "BISYNC'' protocol emulating 3270sor2780s.
■ Programming languages include PASCAL FORTRAN BASIC COBOL!
■ Disk capacities from 360K to 10M bytes • Prices from £1695 plus VAT
■ Full range of C.P.M. software and peripherals
■ NEC spinwriters. EPSON printer MICROPRO software
■ DEALERS BEST DISCOUNTS
We also sell CROMEMCO and North Star Hardware.
26 New Broadway. Ealing, London W5
Telephone: 01-840 1926
CONTACT :-S.B.D. SOFTWARE
15 Jocelyn Road, RICHMOND TW9 2TJ
Tel : 01-948 0461
Add 15% VAT, Postage & Packing Free.
Write or phone for full catalogue.
Dealer Enquiries Welcome.
MAGIC WINDOW £79.95
will instantly convert your Apple system into a word-processor, no modifications or fancy gadgets to buy. Magic Window’s 4-way scrolling
allows you to type up to 80 CHARACTERS per line!! This allows you to see your letter exactly the way it will be printed. Inserting, delet
ing, centreing, and justifying can be done on the screen without the need to print a work copy.
BASIC MAILER £49.95
is a mailing list merge system designed to take MAGIC WINDOW document files and replace names, addresses or any other section of the
document with individual data, creating customized letters, invoices, etc. Basic Mailer will save you so much time with form letters for
mailing that it is hard to believe.
DAN PAYMAR LCA-2 £39.95
see true upper & lower case characters on the screen. It works with the Magic Window and other programs.
MAGIC WINDOW & MAGIC MAILER £115.00
MAGIC WINDOW, MAGIC MAILER & DAN PAYMAR LCA-2 £145.00
Microsoft I 6K expansion card £95.00
Andromeda 16K expansion card £95.00
VISICALC DOS 3.3 £125.00
The upgraded version of the most popular program ever.
VISIDEX £111.00
A most useful cross-reference of information. Assign multiple keywords to the index. Vary the input format as you go. Swift retrieval
&. printing as required.
VISIPLOT £75.00
Plot your data onto high-res. graphs. 6 formats & 6 colours.
VISITREND/VISIPLOT £144 00
Use sophisticated trend analysis techniques on your graphs.
VISICALC DOS 3.2 £75.0C
Still avuilalbe, the oroginal Visicalc. Still as popular as ever.
BRAIN SURGEON £30.00
thoroughly test your Apple II. Diagnose that tricky fault.
DB MASTER (VERSION 3) PI30 ntl
Computed fields. Statistical Analysis. Easter report printing.
UTILITIES
EXPEDITER
£75.00
£14.95
At last you can compile your Applesoft program into machine code and watch it run 2-20 tmes faster.
CRAE - Co-Resident Applesoft Editor
Anyone Writing software on the Apple needs this editor. Global changes & finds, renumber, append, modify. 1 5 commands in all.
GRAE & MC’AT - Catalogue £19.95
We carry the full range of “Sensible Software’’ utilities.
SUPER DISK COPY III £24.95
The best most versatile copy program on the market. Initialize a diskette with or without the DOS sectors. Copy files one by one or the
entire disk. View the catalogue & then see a display of the diskettes free & used sectors. Copy from DOS 3.2 to 3.3 &. visa-versa.
Many other commands.
APPLEGUARD £200 00
Protect your software!! PROTECT AGAINST BIT COPIERS.
AOPT - Applesoft OPTimizer £19.95
Optimize your Applesoft program, remove REM’s, pack as many instructions as possible per line.
APLUS — Structured Baste £19.95
Write programs in a structured manner with your new additional commands and then compile into a regular Applesoft program.
DOS PLUS £19.95
3 new Dos Commands built-in, 5 commands are user-definable. You can now I- LIP easily between Dos 3.3/3.2 from within the program.
Also Dos Command Editor. Edit the names of the Dos commands and initialize disks with your own DOS.
DISK RECOVERY The Scanner” £24.95
Scan your disks and mark faulty tracks so they are not used. Also able to REDO VTOC which may recover your ‘messed-up’ disk.
BACK-IT-UP £50.00
Bit copier to back-up your protected software.
( ARCADE GAMES |
Space Warrior
£12.95
Alien Rain
£12.95
Snoggle
£12.95
Demon Derby
£12.95
Galaxy Wars
£12.95
Gobbler
£12.95
Star Cruiser
£12.95
Alien Typhoon
£13.95
Space Eggs
£14.95
Autobahn
£14.95
Star Mines
£14.95
Apple Panic
£14.95
Sneakers
£16.95
Raster Blaster
£16.95
Star Thief
£16.95
Missile Defense
£17.95
Epoch
£19.95
| ADVENTURE GAMeT]
Mission Asteroid
£ 9.95
Mystery House
£12.95
The Wizard & Princess
£17.95
Cranston Manor
£17.95
Oldorf’s Revenge
£1 1.95
Tarturian
£14.95
Creature Venture
£14.95
Soft Porn Adventure
£17.95
CARD GAMES &
SPORTS GAMES
German Whist
£ 9.95
Crihbage
£12.95
Draw Poker
£14.95
Pool 1.5
£18.95
American Football
£19.95
Hi-Res Soccer
£22.95
1 STRATEGY GAMESj
Galactic Empire 1
£12.95
Galactic Trader II
£12.95
Galactic Revolution III
£12.95
Tawala’s Last Redoubt
£14.95
Golden Mountain
£ 9.95
Kubik
£ 9.95
212 PCW
PERINET
The multiuser, multiprocessor network system
with Ethernet compatibility
OPERATIONAL BENEFITS
• Multiuser, multitasking,
multiprocessor system
• CP/M compatible for
programs and data
• Supports automatic print
spooling
• Multi access file and record
interlocks
• Password security and
system usage
Now available from Sintrom is the PERINET
Z-80 based multiprocessor networking
system capable of providing mainframe
power at a much lower cost.
PERINET is expandable — a minimal system
may consist of just one user, but additional
users can easily be accommodated by adding
more S100 processor cards into the chassis.
Once the full user capacity of PERINET has
been reached, the system may be expanded to
any size with hundreds of users if required by
using the Ethernet networking system.
The system incorporates the PERIFLEX 4000
S100 microcomputer and can handle up to 16
users from a single chassis with each user
having their own processor under the control
of a master processor with ‘bus-master’
capability. Unlike some other multiuser
systems, PERINET users are totally
independent of the system crashes or resets of
other system users.
Storage requirement are handled by the field
proven PERIDATA 4100 Winchester disc and
cartridge back-up system. *
* Available separately as a standalone peripheral
for other microcomputer systems
&
SINTROM GROUP
Sintrom Electronics
Sintrom Electronics Ltd
Arkwright Road, Reading, Berks RG2 OLS
Tel: Reading(0734)85464 Telex: 847395
PCW 213
Try Hunting in the North East
SUPRBRAIN
Full Accounts/Payroll
System including
Superbrain SD and
Printer from only £4125
Word Processing System
from only £3348
FULL RANGE OF
PRINTERS -
ANADEX
NEC SPINWR1TER
OLYMPIA SCRIPTA
RICOH RP1600
MicroPro CP/M software —
WordStar — Mail Merge
DataStar — SuperSort
Other CP/M packages - T/Maker -
Target — Small Hotel System -
Job Costing — Ductwork Estimating
- Super Accounts — and now The
Last One' the program that writes
programs.
All prices exclude VAT and
delivery.
MZ-80K PERSONAL
COMPUTER 48K RAM
For limited period
only £425
exc. VAT & delivery
Includes: Manual, BASIC
language, cassette player/
recorder, 10" VDU, clock,
graphics, music, one year's
guarantee. BEST VALUE
Established 1874
Hunting Business Systems (A Division of Hunting Computer Services Limited)
3 Brus House Mitchell Avenue Thornaby Town Centre Cleveland Tel: (0642) 769709
BUSS STOPHi
PROP: PHOTO ACOUSTICS LTD
Cash& Carry
Prices
PET
fcippkz
A FULL RANGE OF PERIPHERALS
AND SOFTWARE AVAILABLE.
RING NOW!!
58 HIGH ST
255a ST ALBANS RD
NEWPORT PAGNELL
WATFORD,HERTS
BUCKS
(entrance in Judge St)
TEL: (0908) 610625
TEL: 32006
AAKUnCMD
Mail order
credit charge vZ]
Westwood Computers
117 TENNANT STREET, FIVE WAYS,
BIRMINGHAM
SEE OUR COMPREHENSIVE range of microcomputers
for business and personal use!
WORDPROCESSING, ACCOUNTING, FINANCIAL
MODELLING. We give full software and technical
support.
The APPLE II — many programs, accessories,graphics, etc.
The CIFER 2684 microcomputer — Excellent CP/M
computer with ability to interface with mainframes.
POWERFUL WORDPROCESSING program available
with macro programming facilities.
The Z PLUS microcomputer range — Extends to 20MB
hard disk multi-user system. CP/M, SI 00 bus.
MATRIX PRINTERS: SEIKOSHA GP80, MPI, CEN¬
TRONICS 737, LEAR SIEGLER, ANADEX 9500.
DAISYWHEELS: OLYMPIA SCRIPTA, DIABLO 630.
We have an extensive range of COMPUTER BOOKS,
APPLE PROGRAMS, and are distributors for SCOTCH
DISCS and TAPES.
VISIT OUR SHOWROOMS!
CONTINUOUS DEMONSTRATIONS - BROWSERS
WELCOME!
021 632 5824
On the street parking
always available
214 PCW
THE SEED SYSTEM 10
A 6809 BASED SYSTEM SUPPORTING EITHER MINI FLOPPY OR
FLOPPY DISK MEMORY SYSTEM CHOICE OF TWO POWERFUL DISK
OPERATING SYSTEMS
OS-9
TRUE MULTI-TASKING/MULTI USER
FAST BASIC INTERPRETER/COMPILER
PASCAL
EDITOR/ASSEMBLER
STYLOGRAPH WORD PROCESSOR
DOS69
SINGLE USER
basic
EDITOR/ASSEMBLER
DOS 68 EQUIVALENT
WIDE RANGE OF TERM INALS PR INTERS AND ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT
NATIONWIDE MAINTENANCE
PERSONEL TRAINING
RAM EXPANDABLE FROM 32K TO 1 MEGABYTE
PRICED FROM £2515
INTERESTED? THEN CALL US FOR YOUR DEMONSTRATION FREE
OF OBLIGATION.
STRUMECH
PORTLAND HOUSE, COPPICE SIDE,
BROWNHILLS, WALSALL, W. MIDLANDS.
TEL 054 33 78151 TELEX 335243 SELG
L_:_ A
PCW 215
microcomputer products
Not just a light pen but a complete data entry and processing system
for your PET. It can offer a much faster, more convenient and often
better alternative to the keyboard in almost any program. In fact any
task involving human participation in the office, lab or classroom can
be carried out faster and with fewer errors. (Especially if you can't
touch type!). Typical applications include: data input and selection,
word processor enhancement, graphics handling, fast program writing
and editing, computer assisted design, games etc. etc. This system is
very easy to use. All complicated machine code is out of sight in a
plug in ROM — just point the pen and touch the tip! The hardware
includes a stainless steel light pen with precision optics, programmable
touch switch and retractable cable. The 'pen-rest' houses the control
electronics (including CB2 sound) which simply plugs into the USER
PORT. The firmware supports both pic and track modes, auto cursor
movement (better than repeat keys for editing!), single key instant
screen reverse, high resolution (1x2 pixels) if needed. Coordinates and
screen address returned as BASIC variables. All this and more is fully
explained and documented in the comprehensive manual. There is not
enough room in this ad to list all its features but literature is available
on request. To order just send a cheque or phone (anytime) quoting
^your credit card number.
ALTEK
(C.W.) 1 Green Lane
Walton-on-Thames Surrey
Order by post or phone (093 22) 44110 ... 24 hours
Access or Visa accepted. . . Callers by appointment
Selected dealers needed in U.K. and overseas.
BUTEL- COMCO
RP1600 Daisywheel Printer
* Serial V24/IEEE/Centronics
interface
* Optional intelligent version
includes
m
ZJ
CQ
O
c
'<s>
□
X
oc
_0
c
c
X
Qume/Diablo compatible commands
Auto bidirectional operation
2-8K buffer
Write or call for further information:
Butel Comco Limited
Garrick Industrial Centre
Garrick Road,
London NW9 6AQ
Telephone: 01 - 202 0262
Trade / OEM discounts available.
KNIGHTS SHARP MZ-80K OFFERS
48K Sharp with Basic and Pascal £399 48K with BASIC,
PASCAL and machine code £409 48K with BASIC,
PASCAL, FORTH , FORTRAN, and machine code
£449 48K with all above languages, ASSEMBLER,
and 100 programs £499
MZ-80B OFFERS
Sharp MZ-80B with 20 programs £945 MZ-80B with
BASIC, ASSEMBLER, DISASSEMBLER and 100
programs £1045
Write for our latest newsletters which detail the new
PDOS, DISK COMMANDER, Double precision 16
digit BASIC, and the MZ-80DU colour intelligent
terminal with 24 colours and 59,000 point definition.
Please add VAT to the above prices and remember we
guarantee to beat any currently advertised price on
the spot. Remember only Knights have six languages
for the K and only we have a tape based assembler for
the B and masses of Sharp programs.
Knights T.U &
108 ROSEMOUNT PLACE ABERDEEN
Telephone 0224 630526 telex 739169
Alien Rain (Galaxian) — Colour + hi-res version of pub game £13.95
Alien Typhoon — A much more difficult version of Alien Rain. £13.95
Apple Panic - Chase little apples up and down ladders. £16.95
Autobahn — Road race game with sound and hi-res graphics. £14.95
Both Barrels — 2 hi-res action games on one disk £12.95
Cranston Manor - A new hi-res adventure like Wizard + the Princess. £19.95
Cyber Strike — 3D hi-res action adventure in space £19.95
Demon Derby (Hyper Head-on) - 4 skill level hi-res car race game. £13.95
Expediter II - The Applesoft Compiler at a LOW, LOW, price. £56.95
Galaxy Wars — Colour graphics + Sound effects + Hi-res. £13.95
Gamma Goblins — Yet another superb hi-res action game. £16.95
Gobbler — Eat up the dots but watch out for the Gobblers. £13.95
Gorgon — Another superb pub game for your Apple. £21.95
Hi-Res Cribbage - The title describes it. Even hear the pegs move. £14.95
Hi-Res Soccer — English football for 1 or 2 players in hi-res. £16.95
Missile Defense — Hi-res animation and sound arcade game. £16.95
Mission:Asteroid — Hi-res adventure in 21 colours. Save the World!! £10.95
Mystery House — Hi-res adventure using over 100 pictures. £12.95
Oldorf's Revenge — Hi-res adventure with 100 rooms. £11.95
Operation Apocalypse — Four computer simulations of World War 11 £35.95
Orbitron — Fight off enemy forces and avoid meteor showers. £14.95
Paddle Graphics — Draw your own pictures in 21 hi-res colours. £12.95
Pool 1.5 — hi-res colour graphics pool table simulation. 4 games. £19.95
Pulsar 11 — 2 superb hi-res games on one disk. £14.95
Sneakers — Waves of little creatures attack you in hi-res. £16.95
Snoggle (Puckman) — Hi-res maze of ghosts. Great fun. £13.95
Space Eggs — Hi-res super fast arcade style game. £14.95
Space Warrior — Hi-res pub game. £13.95
Superscribe - Word processor. True upper/lower case on screen. £48.95
Tarturian (Wizard) — Another hi-res adventure with 160 rooms. £14.95
The Shattered Alliance - Swords & Sorcery on a far-flung world. £35.95
The Warp Factor — 1 or 2 player hi-res Star Trek/Space War game. £23.95
The Wizard and the Princess — Hi-res adventure in 21 colours. £18.95
M48K
M48K
M48K
M48K
A48K
M48K
M48K
M32K
A48K
M32K
M48K
M48K
M48K
M48K
M48K
M48K
M32K
M48K
A48K
A48K
M48K
A48K
M48K
M48K
M48K
M48K
M48K
M48K
M48K
A48K
A48K
A48K
M48K
A: Require Applesoft in ROM. M: Will run any any Apple. All
software is available on disk only and boots under DOS 3.2 (Most
software will also boot under DOS 3.3). Many of the games
require paddles. PRICES INCLUDE VAT AT 15% UNLIKE MOST
OTHER ADVERTISERS. Please add 50p P+P for orders under
£30 totally. Please write for your free copy of our software list.
DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED. MAIL ORDER ONLY
§©jFW^ === '
98, AVONDALE ROAD, SOUTH CROYDON, SURREY.
Tel: 01-661 1829
216 PCW
THE
Video Genie
EG3000 Series
WITH * 16K user RAM plus extended 12K Microsoft BASIC in ROM ’Fully TRS 80 Level II soft
ware compatible ’Huge range of software already available ’Self contained, PSU, UHF
modulator, and cassette ’Simply plugs into
video monitor or UHF TV ’Full expansion to
;L disks and printer’Absolutely complete
^just fit into mains plug.
16K
STILL ONLY
£299
VAT
GP80
The most compact 80 column impact
graphic-dot printer available -
at a very compact price
by seikosha
Graphics, Normal and
Double- Width Characters
can be printed on the
same line. Pine Feed
Tractor is equipped as
standard.
Two Line-Feed
Commands (1 /6 and
1/9 inch)
Print On Plain Paper with
two copies
Continuous Self-Inking Ribbon for easy handling
Centronics type Parallel Interface standard
Wide Range of Optional Interface Boards
Self-Test Programme standard
£199
+ VAT
SUPERBRAIN
SuperBrain's CP/M operating system
boasts an overwhelming amount of
available software in BASIC, FOR¬
TRAN, COBOL, and APL. Whatever
your application. . . General Ledger,
Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Inven¬
tory or Word Processing, SuperBrain
is tops in its class.
320K £1850 700K £2400
1.5Mb £2750
i COMMODORE |
) COMPUTERS
I PET8K
£415
1 PET 16K
£525
I PET 32K
£650
I PET 8032
£895
| DISK DRIVES
4040
£695
PRINTERS
EPSON TX80B (inc.
i/f a
cable)
£299
EPSON MX80F/T
£395
ANADEX DP8000
£495
ANADEX DP9500
£895
ANADEX DP9501
£995
I VIDEO MONITORS 1
1 10" BLACK Er WHITE
£85 1
| 10" GREEN SCREEN
£95 |
Aculab
Floppy Tape
The tape that behaves
like a disk.
Connects directly to TRS 80
level 2 keyboard. Operating and
file handling software in ROM
8 commands add 12 powerful
functions to level 2 BASIC. No
buttons, switches or volume
controls. Full control of all
functions from keyboard or
program. Maintains directory with
up to 32 files on each tape.
for all TRS 80
& Video Genie owners
TRS80
version:
Video
Genie :
£165
£170
Please add £10 Securicor
delivery charge to all
computers etc.
Plus 15% VAT on all prices
micraSWfe
Freepost, The Bath Computer Centre, ^
29 Belvedere, Lansdown Road, BATH BA1 1FP.
Tel: Bath (0225) 334659
Simple to build, simple to operate.
A powerful, full facility computer
with all the features you would
expect.
Just connect the assembled com¬
puter to any domestic TV and
power source and you are ready
to begin.
Full-sized QWERTY keyboard
6502 Microprocessor Rugged
injection-moulded case 2K RAM
8K HYPER-ROM 23 integrated
circuits and sockets Audio
Acorn Atom
Unique in concept —
the home computer
that grows as you do!
Special features include
’FULL SIZED KEYBOARD
’ASSEMBLER
AND BASIC
’TOP QUALITY
MOULDED CASE
’HIGH RESOLUTION
COLOUR GRAPHICS
cassette interface UHF TV out¬
put Full assembly instructions
VAT
The Second Generation
Personal Computer
Highest performance-lowest price
*48K (8080A)
* 16 Colours or shades of Grey
"Multiple High Resolution Graphics
Modes (64x71, 129 x 159, 255x335)
"Character mode (60 x 24)
"Split Screen Modes
DAI
Personal
Computer
"Full ASCII Upper Et Lower
Character Set
"Unique graphical - Sound
Commands for Smooth Music,
random frequencies &
enveloped sound!
"RS232 1/ F
at only
+ VAT
£595
Paper Tiger460
The Paper Tiger 460 sets new standards
by incorporating many features previously
only available on units costing much more
Features like a specially developed nine wire staggered column head which overlaps the dots
of each matrix character with |ust one pass of the printhead giving a dense high quality print
image without reducing the units 160 c.p s orint speed
It also offers a bi directional logic seeking device to enhance its print optimisation character
istics and wide range of print versatility' features such as mono or proportional spacing, auto
matic justification, programmable horizontal and vertical tabbing and fine positioning for
word processing applications
~ VAT
Paper Tiger560
£695
The Paper Tiger 560 is the first printer which bridges the gap between convenitonal matrix
and daisy wheel types offering quality printing at a relatively low price
Full width 132 column printing at 160 c p s . a unique nine wire staggered print head hi
directional printing, an inbuilt tractor feed and a host of selectable features set it apart from
ordinary matrix printers
Plus for even greater versatility a full dot plot graphics
facility if supplied which includes a ?K _
rHQQ VAT
£895
Books&bits
Books Manuals
Diskettes ribbons Paper
chips (2114x2 IK) £4pair.
RS232 to Centronics interfaces £40 etc. etc.
A variety of second hand computer
equipment usually available,
spares, repairs and service.
PCW 217
MICROS MEMORIES TTLs
AND INTERFACE DEVICES
Z80
£3.70
6800
£3.75
6502
£4.50
Z80A
£5.00
6802
£5.50
6502A
£6.00
8085A
£5.00
6809
£10.00
2650A
£12.00
Z80CTC
£3.70
8205
£2.20
6522
£5.00
Z80ACTC
£4.00
8212
£1.60
6532
£8.00
Z80DMA
£10.00
8216
£1.60
6821
£1.60
Z80ADMA
£12.00
8224
£2.50
6845
£10.00
Z80 ADART £8.00
8228
£2.50
6850
£1.60
Z80 PIO
£3.70
8251
£4.00
6852
£2.50
Z80A PIO
£4.00
8255
£4.00
6875
£6.00
Z80 SIO-1
£20.00 8279 £9.50
Large range of PERIPHERAL devices available.
SPECIAL OFFERS
1-24
25-99
100
2114Low Power
— 450ns
£1.00
£0.90
£0.85
2114Low Power
— 200ns
£1.10
£1.00
£0.90
2716 (+5v)
£2.40
£2.30
£2.10
2732 (+5v)
£4.80
£4.50
£4.00
2532 (+5v)
£5.50
£5.25
£5.00
4116 -200ns
£0.75
£0.70
£0.65
6T13/3 - 150ns
£8.50
£8.00
£7.50
SPEECH SYNTHESIZER
A Texas Instrument Project with a talking library of
200 words and room for expansion. Easy to interface
with most micro computers. Pitch control also provides
exciting electronic musical applications. Complete Kit
(include PCB) £87.00. (Reprint of the original article
in June 1981 EM&M available at 65p + SAE).
ZX80/8I USER PORT
(Described in PCW Oct/Nov 81)
Port module plugs directly in to ZX80/81 to provide
8 input and 8 output lines.
These allow input of data from switches, photocells,
sensors, joysticks etc. and control of 8 relays. Also, 7
segment displays and LED may be used "VARIABLE
TONE AUDIO OUTPUT CAN PRODUCE YOUR
OWN SOUND EFFECTS." Port access is by simple
peek and poke commands. Kit (complete with double
sided PCB) £11.50.
ZX8I MEMORY DOUBLER
Double the on board RAM to 2K. Only one internal
connection. Kit contains one 2K 1C plus full
instructions. £9.00
MEMORY
EXPANSION PCB
Low price versatile system for ATOM, UK101 and
SUPERBOARD. Compact memory expansion PCB.
8K RAM (2114) plus four 24 pin sockets for 2708,
2716, 2732 EPROMS OR 2K Static RAMS (6116)
giving (a) 8K RAM + 16K EPROM or (b) 16K Static
RAM. Fully buffered and decoded layout. Interfacing
instruction supplied. PCB £12.50.
ACORN ATOM: Basic Kit £120, Built £150
SOFTY 2. Ideal hardware/software development tool.
Ready built for programming +5 EPROMS £170.
UK 101: INTERFACING COMPUKIT
DECODING MODULE KIT £27.50
ANALOGUE BOARD KIT £39.95
The analogue board kit includes D/A converter,
8-channel A/D converter, AY-3-8910 Prog. Sound
Generator, 6522 VIA giving timing and counting
functions plus extra 16 bit port.
PLEASE ADD P & P 40p AND VAT AT 15%
TECHNOMATIC LIMITED
305 EDGWARE ROAD
LONDON W2
Tel: 01 723 0233
RETAIL SHOPS:
15 BURNLEY ROAD
LONDON NW10
BARCLAY & ACCESS
CARDS ACCEPTED
MAILORDERS:
17 BURNLEY ROAD
LONDON NW10
Tel: 01-452 1500/450 6597
Telex: 922800
£££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£ ■
CAR
DOCTOR
DO YOU OWN A CAR?
KEEN ON HOME MAINTENANCE & REPAIR?
WELL, CAR DOCTOR IS HERE TO HELP !
A PROGRAM WHICH GUIDES YOU LOGIC¬
ALLY THROUGH THE FAULT-FINDING
PROCESS OF DIAGNOSIS.
THISPROGRAM CAN SAVE TIME & MONEY!
CASSETTE
LISTING
£(5)
£(3)
SINCLAIR ZX81 (16K)
□
□
TANDY TRS-80 (16K)
LEVEL II
□
□
SEND CHEQUE/PO OR CASH TO:
SPANGRADE LTD
FREEPOST
BIGGLESWADE
BEDS.
SG18 0BR
PLEASE NOTE:
NO STAMP
REQUIRED.
PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 28 DAYS FOR DELIVERY.
£££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££
The exciting speech 1
synthesizer
for industrial, business & pleasure application
LOOK WHAT YOU GET FOR £149.95
• A one-watt audio amplifier
• Data echo of ASCII characters
• Phoneme access modes
• RS 232C interface FOR APPLE II
• TRS-80 NASCOM Superboard/UK 101 IEEE 488
Interface for PET, Hewlett Packard
• 750 character butter
• Data switching capability
• Baud rate (75-9600)
• + many other extras.
Programming. . . . For example: simply type the
ASCII characters representing "h-e-l-l-o" to
generate the spoken word "hello".
SOUND EFFECTS
& MUSIC
FOR UK101, PET
SUPERBOARD
NASCOM
Accessories:
Multi-function Eprom
programmer/copier avail¬
able now for NASCOM
Superboard, UK 101, TRS-80,
APPLE and PET £89.95
Send large S.A.E. for catalogue
Prices do not include VAT
ABC PAYMENT
A: ACCESS
B: BARCLAY
C: CHEQUE OR CASH
Eo/icom p
57 PARANA COURT, SPROWSTON,
NORICH NR7 8BH
0603 416352
218 PCW
The suppliers of the first Basic Compiler for the Pet,
Oxford Computer Systems (Software), proudly announce:
the first of a new generation of Basic Compilers for Commodore systems. PETSPEED is a
fully compatible, optimising Basic Compiler for Commodore Systems. Programs written in
Pet Basic may be compiled WITHOUT alteration to give a highly efficient object program
saved as a program file on disc.
PETSPEED supports advanced features previously only available on much larger systems:
• OPTIMISATION — this feature, previously provided only on large computers, results
both in smaller programs and much faster code.
• DATA — in addition to FLOATING POINT, STRING and genuine INTEGER arithmetic,
the Compiler uses extra internal data types. Although this is completely transparent to the
user, it allows many operations which would otherwise be carried out in floating point to be
executed in integer arithmetic. This means FASTER code and more efficient operation.
• COMPATIBILITY — any Pet Basic programme can be compiled.
• LONG VARIABLE NAMES — meaningful variable names can now be used in Basic
programs allowing easier DE BUGGING and maintenance.
• SPEED — Compiled programs run at up to 30 TIMES the speed of Pet Basic.
• PROGRAM SIZE — the size of long programs is considerably reduced leaving room for
extra code and data.
• COMPILING SPEED - PETSPEED is driven entirely in machine code giving a
Compiling Speed of 2 LINES PER SECOND.
o
• USER SUPPORT — in addition to the fully Comprehensive manual, a telephone and
postal enquiry service is available to answer questions from users of PETSPEED.
• AVAILABILITY — use PETSPEED for all your 8000 series programming including the
NEW 8096.
Also available from OXFORD COMPUTER SYSTEMS (SOFTWARE):
COMPILED INTEGER BASIC — a very fast Irfteger Compiler for ALL Pet models. Compiled
Basic is for those applications where the speed of the machine is required without the
inconvenience of assembly level programming.
"admirably fast code . . ."
"exciting extra commands ..." Printout
(the Pet users magazine)
Compiled basic is already widely used in education and research. It is ideal for applications
that do not require floating point arithmetic e g.
• DISC HANDLING — disc operations in Compiled Basic are much faster than in Pet
basic. Compiled Basic provides a set of extra IEEE commands to speed up the process even
further.
• FAST INPUT/OUTPUT — Compiled Basic is ideal for fast I/O such as Datalogging,
driving fast peripherals etc.
• POKING THE SCREEN — poking to the screen is incredibly fast in Compiled Basic.
This, together with the PLOT command makes Compiled Basic ideal for any graphics
application.
• SEARCHING and SORTING — large quantities of data can be processed at real
machine code speed.
• SPEED — Compiled Basic programs run at up to 150 TIMES the speed of Pet Basic
WHICH COMPILER IS SUITABLE FOR YOUR APPLICATION?
At Oxford Computer Systems we can advise on which Compiler is most suitable for you.
PETSPEED for 8000 series.£225.00 COMPILED BASIC .£150.00
PETSPEED for 8096 series.£300.00 (for 3,1 Commodore Systems, including COMPUTHINK drives.)
SPECIAL OFFER: PETSPEED for 8000 series PLUS COMPILED BASIC for just £250.00
(if your order is received before 25 September 1981)
For further details contact:
Oxford Computer Systems (Software) Ltd.
7 & 8 Park End Street, Oxford 0X1 1HH Telephone: Oxford (0865) 722872
PCW 219
f— . . ~
Cromemco Q
Tomorrow's Computers
Today.
Wide range of languages, 1 6K and 32K Basic,
Cobol, Rational Fortran and Fortran IV, Lisp,
RPG etc. Operating systems —
CROMEMCO MODELS.
Unit
RAM
ROM
Disc
System Zero/D
64K
4K
2 x 390K
System 2
64K
4K
2 x 390K
System 3
64K
4K
2 x 1.2M
Hard Disc Z2 H
64K
4K
10M + 2 x 390K
Z2H Colour Graphics
64 K
4K
10M + 2 x 390K
Cromemco CDOS, CP/M Compatible
or Cromix for Multi-User
We are the Experts - Write or phone
for FREE advice and catalogue, or
allow us to arrange a demonstration.
Cromemco's none obsolescence
policy protects your investment
for years to come.
DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME.
DATRON MICRO CENTRE
2 Abbeydale Road, Sheffield S7 1 FD.
Telephone 0742-585490/585400.
Telex 547151.
\
S
The Newest Peripheral lor your
Microcomputer- The Encyclopedia for theTRS 80
What's the key to getting the most from your TRS-80?
No, it isn't disk drives or printers or joysticks. It's information.
Without a continual supply of information and ideas, you
can't realize the full potential of the TRS-80
Our response to the clamour for additional information
is the Encyclopedia for the TRS-80. a ten-volume reference
work that is absolutely packed with programs and articles
carefully selected to help you make the most of your
microcomputer. You can consider the volumes of the
Encyclopedia to be an extension of the documentation that
came with your TRS-80. The articles and programs will be
similar to those found in 80 Microcomputing. Each book is
full of material on programming techniques, business,
games, tutorials, education, utilities, interfacing
you name it.
Unlike conventional encyclopedias, the Encyclopedia
for the TRS-80 will never become stale or out of date.
That's because the volumes of the Encyclopedia are being
issued one-at-a-time. over a period of months. This means
that each new volume will reflect the latest developments
and discoveries, making this a living encyclopedia for
TRS-80 users.
Volume 1 will be out in September. Its more than
270 pages in length . that's 270 pages of solid
information no advertising.
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER
Order the entire set (the first ten volumes] of the
Encyclopedia for the TRS-80 and receive the tenth volume
FREE! PAY ONLY £53 91 for the first ten volumes -
normally £59.90.
Beat inflation by buying the whole set now
we cannot guarantee these same single volume prices for
future volumes. You cannot lose! Preview the first volume
of the set and judge for yourself If the Encyclopedia for the
TRS-80 does not meet your needs or expectations, just
return the first volume within ten days and we will refund
the entire amount of your purchase If at any time you are
dissatisfied, you may cancel the remaining volumes. The
books will be automatically sent to you every 6 weeks
Take advantage of this offer now 1 You can t afford to miss
oat on the newest peripheral - the Encyclopedia for the
TRS-80 Telephone 021-632 6458 call your order in today
or use the coupon below
Send me a complete set of the first ten volumes of the Encyclopedia of the
TRS-80 at your special introductory price of £53 91 including VAT and p & p □
Send me Volume 1 priced £5 99 including VAT and p & p □
Address*
Phone _
(Day/Evg)
(Cheque enclosed/My credit card number is .
COMPUTERS LIMITED
SPECIALISTS IN MICROCOMPUTER HARDWARE/SOFTWARE
119 John Bright Street
Birmingham B1 1BE
Phone: 021-632 6458
220 PCW
TECPACS
The reliable technical prog rams for desktop computers
TECPACS are high-quality,
technical software packages,
written and tested by professionals
for professionals. They can be
used in your office, no large
centralised computing facilities
are needed, and computing
experience is unnecessary. With
TECPACS, designers and engineers
can explore design alternatives
with ease and confidence.
TECPACS offer such features as
□ Built-in high technical standard
□ Easy to use, friendly style
For further details,
of TECPACS available contact the:
Technical Software Centre
BHRA Fluid Engineering
Cranfield. Bedford MK43 OAJ
England
or telephone Dr Eugene Sweeney on
0234 750 102
□ Data checking facilities
□ Trend facilities
□ Choice of units
□ High-quality presentation of
results
Typical TECPACS available
now include:
□ FUNKIT-1, evaluates and plots
any function (up to 100
characters long, any number of
variables) £100
□ POLYNOMIAL evaluation
and analysis (root finding,
integration etc) £80
□ GRAPHKIT, graph plotting,
Technical Software Centre
curve fitting, non-linear
regression £80
□ HISTOKIT, high resolution
histoqrams, univariate statistics.
£80
TECPACS add another
professional to your team. In your
office, or in the design office,
just switch on, select your
TECPAC program disk, and in
minutes you have the answers
you need.
For use with PETS, APPLES
and other machines.
MICROCOMPUTER COMPONENTS
LOWEST PRICES - FASTEST DELIVERY
CPUs
SUPPORT CHIPS
MEMORIES NEW LOW |
6502
4.95
6520
3.15
PRICES
6800
3.70
6522
4.95
2114L200ns
1
1.28
6802
5.11
6532
7.95
(Low power) 25
1.19
6803
11.80
6821
1.74
2114L300ns
1
1.28
6809
11.95
6840
4.20
(Low power
8085A
5.50
68488P
9.11
for Acorn etc)25
1.19
Z80CPU
4.00
6850
1.70
2708 450ns
1
1.99
Z80A CPU
4.82
662
6.91
25
1.86
6871 AIT
18.70
2716 450ns
1
2.49
CRT CONTROLLERS
6875L
4.18
(single 5v)
25
2.37
9364AP
5.94
6880
1.07
2532 450ns
1
5.50
9365
62.90
6887
0.80
25
5.31
9366
62.90
8212
1.70
2732 450ns
1
5.43
6845
9.50
8216
1.70
25
5.24
8224
2.45
4116150ns
1
1.15
DATA CONVERTERS
8228
3.95
25
1.06
ZN425E
3.50
8251
3.95
4116 200ns
1
0.80
ZN426E
3.00
8253
7.95
25
0.72
ZN427E
6.28
8255
3.95
4118 200ns
1
3.90
ZN428E
4.78
AY-3-1015
3.90
25
3.23
ZN429E
2.10
AY-5-1013
3.45
6116 200ns
1
10.95
ZN432
28.09
AY-5-2376
6.95
2k 8
25
9.95
ZN433
22.59
MCI 488
0.64
8264 200ns
1
12.00
ZN433
56.63
MCI 489
0.64
64k 1
25
11.00
ZN440
7.61
MC14411
6.94
REGULATORS
Data Converter H'book
MCI 4412
7.99
7805
0.50
1.00
RO-3-2513L
7.70
7812
0.50
Data Converter Kit
29.95
RO-3-2513U
7.70
7905
0.55
Z80 CTC
4.00
7912
0.55
BUFFERS
81LS95
0.90
Z80A CTC
Z80 DMA
4.00
11.52
DILSOCKETS
Or^in
0.07
0.09
0.09
0.15
0.17
0.21
0.23
0.25
0.29
81LS96
0.90
Z80A DMA
9.99
UF " 1
14pin
16pin
18pin
20pin
22pin
24pin
28pin
40pin
81LS97
0.90
Z80 DART
7.18
81LS98
0.90
Z80A DART
7.18
8T26A
1.50
Z80PIO
3.78
8T28A
1.50
Z80A PIO
3.78
8T95N
1.50
Z80SIO0
13.95
8T97N
1.50
Z80SIO-1
13.95
8T98
1.50
Z80SIO-2
Z80A SI0-0
13.95
13.95
CRYSTALS
Z80A SIO-1
13.95
1 MHz
3.00
Z80A SIO-2
13.95
1.8432 MHz
2.50
2.4576 MHz
2.50
4 MHz
1.65
OFFICIAL ORDERS WELCOME - QUANTITY DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
MIDWICH COMPUTER
COMPANY LIMITED
Dept PCW/I
Hewitt House, Northgate Street,
Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
IP33 1HQ. Tel: (0284) 701321
All prices exclude Post and Packing.
(50p on orders under £10) and VAT.
All orders despatched on day of receipt
with full refund for out of stock items
if requested.
Colour
from
EuroApple
without
'Colour Card’
14" Colour Monitors
for Computer Application
Model AM 3781 dedicated to EuroApple. £325.
No ‘colour card’ required
High Resolution Colour Graphics
80 Character Capability
Full Screen Text Window Display
Green or white text
Model TVTM 3781. USA Apple, Texas Tl 99/4
Atari 800 etc, £325.
TV Programmes
American Standard Video, NTSC (3-58)
European Standard Video, PAL (4-43)
add 15% VAT
Conversions Limited
CREDIT CARD ORDERS WELCOME (ACCESS AND VISA)
24 HOUR TELEPHONE SERVICE
25 Sunbury Cross Centre
Sunbury on Thames Middlesex
Tel. No. Sunbury (09327) 88972
VIDEO MODIFICATION SPECIALISTS
PCW 221
COMPUTER SYSTEMS FOR TH€
HOME & BUSINESS €NTHUSIRST
SHARP
MZ80K
Sharp MZ-80K 48K
£434,Twin Disk Unit
for MZ-80 £660, 80-
Col. Printer for MZ-80
£399, *A complete
business system for
less than £2000.00.
SHARPMZ
80K - £399
Now available Sharp MZ-80B
P.O.A. ring for details of this
outstanding system.
SHARP 3201
Business computer 64K Ram 32K Rom expand¬
able to 112K Ram 72K Rom P.O.A. 3201
SHARP PC 1211 Pocket CcJfnp
Sharp PCI211 Pocket computer • Programs in Basic • Qwerty
Alphabetic Keyboard • 1.9K Ram • Long battery life with
interface £105.00, Printer for S|~|p)ftp p£ 1211 — £93.00
ATARI 400 - £335
lTARI 800 - £425
ATARI
400/800
Atari 400 16K
Ram expandable
to 32K - Amazing
\ graphics •
\ amazing 3D
games • the game
computer of the
future • must be
seen to be believed • programs in
"Basic" "Assembler" "Pilot"
PCI 211 £67.00
Phone for more details now
GAM€ COMPUTERS
Atari 2600 plus Combat £95.45, Game cartridges from
£15.45, Atari 2600 Space Invader Package plus Combat,139
games only £119, Atari 2600 Asteroids package plus
Combat, 93 games, only £125, *"Asteroids Launched"
game cartridge only £29.95, Philips G7000 Computer
Game of the Future only £84, Game cartridges from
£13.50, Matel Intellivision the most advanced computer
game (3D graphics) an unbelievable £199.
CREDIT FACILITIES!
AVAILABLE
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS FOR I
CASH & CARBV CUSTOMCRSl
VID60 S€RVIC€S BROMICY')
8 SUNDRIDGE PARADE D . . . /DT
PIAISTOUJ LANE 8ROMLEV KENT Pnccs incluc)c VHT
in'or Si >Tv m 'mc Pork StoOon & change during month
MAIL
ORDER
AVAILABLE
]
TELEPHONE 01 -460 4169/8833
TEMPLEM AN
CREAM
HAVE
SOFTWARE
LIMITED
E-X-P-A-N-D-E-D
Cream, with its large modern shop centrally situated in Harrow (5 minutes from Harrow on the Hill
Tube) has long been recognised as THE Computer Shop in North-West London to see and buy the
latest in Apple and Commodore PET computer systems.
- NOW WE HAVE EXPANDED -
More professional demonstrators and consultants and
AN EVEN GREATER PRODUCT RANGE!
. . . Comprehensive packages for complete
solutions to . . .
* INVOICING
* PURCHASE LEDGER
* STOCK CONTROL/RE-ORDERING
* PALLET/WAREHOUSING
* WORD PROCESSING WITH
ADDRESSING
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
* The best demonstrators in town.
* First class consulants to help identify your
specific business needs.
* Programming expertise second to none for
special software and tailoring.
* Full after sales service and training of your
staff.
PRODUCT RANGE
* PAYROLL
* PRODUCTION CONTROL
* HI FI RETAILING
* GROCERY RETAILING
* WHOLESALING
-SOFTWARE IS OUR MIDDLE NAME-
TEMPLEMAN SOFTWARE LTD
CTDATCODnOM A\/OM
*THE Fullest range of Apple and Commodore
Pet computers and the latest peripherals.
*MORE printers to choose from — Qumes,
Okis, Epsons, etc.
* Excellent business software.
*THE NEW VIC 20 personal computer with
colour and sound — plugs straight into your
TV - Just £189.95 inc VAT.
* Disks Tapes Books, Paper Ribbons.
o 1 n A 1 rUnU-UIM’AVUlM
WARWICKSHIRE
FOR KEEN PRICES PROMPT DELIVERY AND THE BEST SERVICE IN TOWN -
CREAM COMPUTER SHOP
Tel 0789 66237
380 STATION ROAD. HARROW. MIDDLESEX HA1 2DE
Open Tuesday — Friday 10am — 5.30pm — Saturday 10am - 5.00pm Tel: 01-863 0833/4
ACCESS BARCLAYCARD and MAIL ORDERS WELCOMED.
222 PCW
\ 5 HHL FOR THE PET/CBM
VIGIL is an exciting, new interactive lanouaqe for your PET/CBM. It's easy to
learn and lets you quickly create games and graphics applications.
* More than 60 powerful commands for manipulating oraphics fiqures
* Double density graphics give you 80 X 50 plot positions
* Large rumher displays, two timers and tone (with ext. speaker)
* LOADing and SAVEing of VIGIL programs to cassettP or diskette
* Nine complete programs included - Breakout, SpaceWar, AntiAircraft.
U.F.O., SpaceBattle, Concentration, Maze, Kaleidoscope S FortuneTell
* Comprehensive 50+ page manual
* For OLD, NEW or 4.0 Poms
VIGIL for PET/CBM on cassette or diskette w/9 programs.$35.
VIGIL User's Manual (refundable with software order).$10
VIGIL Interpreter Listinq (650? Assembler lanquage).$25
PET MACHINE LANGUAGE GUIDE (OLD. NEW, or 4.0 ftOMS).$9
FOPEIGN
..$40
. .$ 1 ?
. .$30
PET ft APPLE I! USERS TlNY PASCAL
The TINY Pascal System turns your PET or APPLE II into a P-machine with:
* LINE EDITOR - creates, modifies and maintains source language
* COMPILER - produces P-code, the assembly language of the P-machine
* INTERPRETER - executes compiled P-code. Features built-in TRACE.
* STRUCTURED PROGRAMMING -CASE-OF, WHILE-DO, IF - THEN-EL SF, PEPEAT-UNTI
F0R-T0/D0WNT0. BEGIN-END, PPOC, FUNC
PET A APPLE II USERS
Tiny Pascal
Plut +
GRAPHICS
The TINY Pascal System turns your APPLE II or PET micro into a 16-blt P-machlne
You too can learn the language that is slated to become the successor to BASIC
TINY Pascal offers the following:
* LINE EDITOR to create, modify and maintain source
* COMPILER to produce P-code. the assembly langauage of the P-machlne
* INTERPRETER to execute the compiled P-code (has TRACE)
* Structured programmed constructs: CASE-OF-ELSE, WHILE-DO. IF THEN
ELSE, REPEAT-UNTIL, FOR TO/DOWNTO-DO, BEGIN-END, MEM. CONST
VAR ARRAY
Our new TINY Pascal PLUS + provides graphics and other builtin functions
GRAPHICS. PLOT. POINT, TEXT, INKEY, ABS AND SQR The PET version sup¬
ports double density plotting on 40 column screen giving 80 x 50 plot positions.
The APPLE II version supports LORES and for ROM APPLESOFT owners the
HIRES graphics plus other features with: COLOR, HGRAPHICS, HCOLOR,
HPLOT, PDL and TONE For those who do not require graphics capabilities, you
may still order our original Tiny Pascal package
PET BASIC 4.0 version also available
TINY Pascal Plus + GRAPHICS VERSION-includes manual
PET 32K NEW Roms cassette
PET 32K NEW Roms diskette.
APPLE II w/ROM Applesoft only w/DOS. $50
Graphics version has more - GPAPHICS, PLOT, POINT, TlxT, INKEY, APS, S0R.
PET/CBM has double density plotting and APPLE II has LORES and HIRE5
(with ROM Applesoft) - COlOft, HGRAPHICS, HCOLOR, HPLOT, PDL and TONE
U.S. 4 CANADA
TINY Pascal PLUS* * GRAPHICS VERSION includes manual
PET 32K NEW/4.0 ROMS diskette.$50.
PET 32K NEW/4.0 ROMS cassette.$55.
APPLE II 48K and DOS 3.2/3.3.$50.
TINY Pascal NON-GRAPHICS VERSION includes manual
PET 16K/32K NEW ROMS diskette.$35.
PET 16K/32K NEW ROMS cassette.$40.
APPLE 11 32K and DOS 3.2/3.3.$35.
TINY Pascal User's Manual (refundable with software order).$10.
TINY Pascal 6502 I nterpreter Listi ng-GRAPHICS version.$25.
TINY Pascal 6502 Interpreter Listing-NON-GRAPHICS version.$15.
PET MACHINE LANGUAGE GUIDE *for OLD, NEW or 4.0 ROMS.$9
.$60
.$65
.$60
.$45
.$50
.$45
.$12
.$30
.$20
.$11
VISA'
[fT Tff lllll!
iiiiiilll!
ABACUS SOFTWARE
P. O. Box 7211
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49510
616/ S41-551D
Prices include postage.
Orders must be prepaid via
check, money order or bank-
card. Foreign orders may be
paid for via i nternational
money order or bankcard:
1 Access,Eurocard,Bare laycard)
TINY Pascal NON GRAPHICS VERSIONS-Inclodes manual
PET 16K/32K NEW Roms cassette
PET 16K/32K NEW Roms diskette.
APPLE II w/ROM Applesoft 32K w/DOS
APPLE II w/RAM Applesoft 48K w/DOS.
USER s Manual (refundable with software order)
6502 Assembly Listing of INTERPRETER-graphics
non-graphics.
Include* Airmail f
Eurocam Acoaaa
o Europa Omar* may ba prapaw of by ban*cart) (mcluda a
$50
$45
$45
$45
$12
$30
$25
inntiwi
ABACUS SOFTWARE
P. O. Box 7211
Grand Rapids, Michigan
49610
PCW 223
^Professional Bata systems.
Came House, Markland Hill,
Chorley New Road, Bolton.
0204 493816
LEVEL I APPLE ACCREDITED SERVICE
DEALER ONE YEARS FULL WARRANTY
ON ALL APPLE EQUIPMENT. DEALER
ENQUIRIES WELCOMED.
RING FOR OUR COMPLETE CATALOGUE
ALL PRICES SUBJECT TO 15XVAT +
POSTAGE & PACKING CREDIT CARD
SALES SUBJECT TO 5% CHARGE OVER
ADVERTISED PRICE. WE NOW
DISTRIBUTE FOR SIRIUS, MICROSOFT,
STONEWARE HIGH TECHNOLOGY
CREA TIVE COMPUTING
APPLE 48K MICRO COMPUTER £710.50
SEIKOSHA GP80 FRICTION/TRACTOR
PRINTER £235.59
CENTRONICS 737 PRINTER £371.00
EPSON MX 80 FT/2 £392.44
ANADEX 9500 £783.13
16k RAMCARD £101.06
VIDEX VIDEOTERM 80 COL CARD £196.88
THE MILL WITH PASCAL KIT £238.88
PASCAL LANGUAGE SYSTEM £261.63
Z80 SOFTCARD £192.94
JOYSTICKS (NEW PRODUCT) £19.69
VERSAWRITER £130.38
NEC 12" GREEN/BLACK MONITOR £172.16
WORDSTAR £191.63
MAIL-MERGE £74.81
DB MASTER £116.81
VISIDEX £116.81
WATANABE DIGI-PLOTS £892.50
CORVUS 10 MEGABYTE HARD DISC £3753.75
PASCAL HANDBOOK £13.19
YOUR FIRST COMPUTER £8.27
BENEATH APPLE DOS £13.06
ANTI BALLISTIC MISSILE £15.65
HELL FIRE WARRIORS £23.49
STAR CRUISER £15.65
SPACE EGGS £15.68
CYBER STRIKE £16.41
COMPUTER NEPOLEONICS £31.43
SPACE INVADERS £11.91
TORPEDO FIRE £34.08
ROBOT WAR £23.49
NEW CATALOGUE NOW READY!
PLEASE RING!
COMMODORE PETS
8032
8050
8024
8026
8027
4032
4040
4022
Computer
Floppy Disk
Matrix Printer
Daisy Printer Keyboard
Daisy Printer Read Only
Computer
Floppy Disk
Matrix Printer. *Phone for latest prices
*
** VIC'S NOW IN **
Second Hand Equipment Brought & Sold. Call now.
Other printers we supply are: Qume, Ricoh, Epson,
Centronics.
We also supply software: Visicalc, Wordcraft, Incomp¬
lete Records, Payroll, Stock Control, Invoicing,
Sales & Purchase, Time Recording, Ozz.
All accessories are available from us and our other
services include installation & training and mainten¬
ance contracts.
Please phone for a quotation of our typing, work¬
processing and personalised mail shot services.
DAVINCI COMPUTER SHOP
65 High Street
Edgware Midds
Mon-Fri. 9.004.30 Sat 9.30-5.00
or send for details.
Tel: 01-952 0526
Diskwise Ltd
25 Fore Street, Callington
Cornwall, PL17 7AD.
Tel: 05793 3780
DEV0N&C0RNWAU
Computer enthusiasts look no further
WE STOCK THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS:
APPLE II PLUS48K.£807
ADLER ALPHATRONIC FROM. £18.20
VIDEO GENIE .£325
TRANSAM TUSCAN KIT FROM .£235
EPSON MX80 F/T.£425
Plus extra for l/F to Pet, TRS80, etc.
MICRO LINE 80 .£350
OLYMPIA SCRIPTA
DAISYWHEEL quality printers from.£838
TANTEL PRESTEL ADAPTER .£170
Above prices plus VAT
Paper, Discs, Books and the largest range
of APPLE BUSINESS SOFTWARE in the
South West
PLYMOUTH SHOP NOW OPEN AT:
Deptford Place, North Hill Plymouth, Tel 267000
224 PCW
The Currah Mini Digital
Recorder is the fast and
simple alternative t o Disc
• High Read/Write speed - 6000 baud
(10-20 times faster than audio cassette)
• High data integrity (error better than 1.10 7 )
• No keys - under software control - facilities
normally only available with disc
• Uses proven Philips mechanism
• Large capacity - up to 120K bytes
• Additional RAM and ROM
Firmware included
Robust construction/
Attractive appearance
Compatible with 6502
based computers including
DISTRIBUTORS REQUIRED IN SELECTED
AREAS
£195
postage and
packing -f VAT
IlClUlRlRlAlH
COMPUTER COMPONENTS LIMITED
GRAYTHORP INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
HARTLEPOOL CLEVELAND TS25 2DF
Telephone: (0429) 72996
. C U R R A H *
<« JiSpjS ^fu lj- DATA N0W!
ft Currah Computer Components Ltd.,
Graythorp Industrial Estate, Hartlepool, Cleveland, TS25 2DF.
srrvj mr .. D ,
Money Back
[_) 220m recorder £227.40 me P&P. .intlVAT Guaranteed
| 1 Box (6) Cassettes £18.80 me P&P .mil VAT if returned in j
[~1 Further Information 7 days. |
I enclose my chcqur/fjostdl ardor tor i or dobit my Access.
Barcljycjrd No .
PCW
•AROATCARO
VISA
Name
Address
Signature
,,plol i st * < ilk M 28 (A 'V s h >' t k 7/i t tv [
WIN 128K BYTES EXPANSION FOR YOUR APPLE
PET,ATOM,VIDEO / GENIE,TRS / SINCLAIRZX81
SPECIAL OFFERlj
to encourage software
development on the ATOM
system.
(details of the competition in our
leaflets)
If you intend to buy any Ram expansion for your system, you would
probably ask the salesman some of the following questions:
- Is it fully compatible with the hardware on my system?
- Is it upgradable to a total Ram system?
- Is it easy to install, reliable and affordable?
Instead of making vague promises, we give a frank 'yes' in reply - because we have done it on our Ram expansion modules.
We use the latest device from today's technology to offer you simplicity and flexibility — the Motorola MC 665-L20 64K bit
on a chip, which consumes a mere 10mA/5V to retain your data, or the Hitachi HM 6116 2 x 8K CMOS RAM which can
keep programs and data for weeks or months.
We have done our best to make it affordable for everyone — look at the prices below for example. First, however, take a look
at the specifications.
Price List
16K byte
32K byte
64K bytes
Total RAM
system
64K bytes
secondary
memory
128K bytes
secondary
memory
CMOS language
card
Apple
—
—
_ s*
£80
£130
16K = £63
Pet
£39
£54
£87
£80
£130
20K =£75
UK 101
£39
£54
£87
£80
£130
16K = £63
Atom
£39
£54
Special offer
Special offer
Special offer
16K = £63
TRS80
£33
£43
—
£70
£120
Video Genie
£33
£43
—
£70
£120
ZX81 internal
fitting
£33
£43
—
£70
£120
ZX81
DRAMPACK
£36
£46
—
£73
<
£123
ZX81
experi-
mentator
system
£31
£41
£68
£118
— V
8K=£38
Most jjiicros except new Pet & Videogenie need extra power supply for 16K and 32K expansion = 12V/400mA and —5V/10mA. We can
supply PSV card at £8.00. All prices are quoted for kit package. Ready built — please add a unique charge at £8.00 to all prices.
All components and documentation included — guarantee 3 months. We also sell bareboard and components separately, e.g.:
MC6665 —L20 = £7.00 + VAT. HM 6116P = £6.00 + VAT. No VAT for all export orders.
For full details together with price list, please write or ring us on Southend (0702) 613081.
AUDIO COMPUTERS 87 BOURNEMOUTH PARK ROAD SOUTHEND ON SEA ESSEX
Tel: (0702) 613081.
PCW 225
FREE SOUND WITH VIDEO GENIE
\
NEW "SUPER GENIE"
WITH UPPER/LOWER
CASE AS STANDARD
ONLY £299 INC. SOUND!
(THIS IS THE LATEST MODEL
NOT AN UPGRADE)
32K EXPANSION BOX ONLY £279
* GENIE II *
THE BUSINESSMAN'S
MOST COST EFFECTIVE
COMPUTER
INCLUDING NUMERIC
PAD AND SOUND
ONLY £329
rOMPUKIT UK101
IK KIT £99.95
8K KIT £119.00
8K BUILT £159.00
BUILT WITH FREE
SOUND)
EPSON
PRINTERS
MX80T - £329
MX80F/T - £379
DISC DRIVES FOR
VIDEO GENIE
(40 TRACK)
SINGLE - £195
DUAL - £380
DISC CONTROLLER/24K
EXPANSION
FOR UK101/SUPERBOARD
ONLY £189
SEIKOSHA
PRINTER
NOW ONLY £179
KRAM ELECTRONICS,
VICTORIA HOUSE,
17 HIGHCROSS ST.,
LEICESTER.
TEL. LEICESTER 27556
✓
THE
N SORCERER
CENTRE
EMG MICROCOMPUTERS LTD.
30 HEATHFIELD ROAD, CROYDON, SURREY CRO 1EU.
TEL: 01-688 0088
We are specialists in complete installations, tailormade
software for your business needs.
WORD PROCESSING SYSTEM E14.99/WEEK
COMPLETE BUSINESS SYSTEM E24.99/WEEK
Software includes customer and invoice system, leads
and sales system, VAT outputs and debtors, insurance
agents system, car sales program, order processing
program.
We provide any printer to fit your Sorcerer e.g. Qume,
Starwriter, Spinwriter, Centronics 737 and NEW Adcomp
printer plotter matches '8.8 Graphics capability of Sorcerer
to give complete graphics.
SPECIAL OFFER #
Sorcerer 48K for only £595*
★ Special Educational Discount
★ Demonstrations and Quotes given
★ Free Software and Hardware catalogue
★ 6 copies of Source magazine £6
ALL PRICES EXCLUDE VAT AN EMG COMPANY
•Subject to dollar surcharge.
PRINTERS
Buy any of the below and get a
free interface kit and word
processor program for UK101
or Superboard. Base 2 800MST
<£250. Seikosha GP80A £199.
Centronics 737 £395. OKI
Microline 80 £299. OKI Micro¬
line 82A £399. OKI Microline
83A £699. OKI Microline 82
£399. OKI Microline 83 £699.
Epson MX70T £259. Epson
MX80T £359. Epson MX80F/T1
£399. Epson MX80F/T2 £449.
Epson MX100 £575.
SHARP COMPUTERS
MZ80K 20K £380, 36K £394,
48K £408. PC1211 £82.
VIC 20 COMPUTER £165
OHIO SCIENTIFIC
COMPUTERS
Superboard 3 poa. Series 2
challenger 4k poa, 8k poa. Power
supply kit £11-95. Modulator
£3-50. Guard band kit £10. 4k
extra RAM £10-80. 16K memory
expansion complete kit £50,
built £58. 32K memory expansion
kit £74, built £82. Case £27.
Cegmon £22-50. Wemon £19-95.
Assembler/Editor tape £25.
Word processor program £10.
Centronics interface kit £10. 610
expansion board poa. Cased mini¬
floppy disc drive with DOS and
PSU poa. Cassette recorder
£19. Colour adaptor board
built £45.
PET, ATOM, UK101
MEMORY REVOLUTION
Memory expansion boards 16k
kit £50, built £58. 32K kit
£74, built £82.
VIDEO GENIE £279
5V POWER KITS
Fully stabilised 5V computer
and TTL power kits. Automatic
current limiting and short
circuit protection. Crowbar
over-voltage protection. 1.5A
£7.83, 3A £12-17, 6A £19-13.
SWANLEY ELECTRONICS Postage £3.50on computers.
Dept PCW, 32 Goldsel Rd, £4.50 on printers and 45p on
Swanley, Kent BR8 8EZ. other orders. Lists 27p post free.
Tel Swanley (0322) 64851 Please add VAT to all prices.
Official credit orders welcome.
226 PCW
ZX81
-\
owners
have you seen
7^e (ZatnfcUcOpe @oCtect6y*t
A book of
30 PROGRAMS
For Only £ 4.95
NO MEMORY EXPANSION NEEDED
Each program has been designed to fit into IK of RAM
TEACH YOURSELF PROGRAMMING
Comprehensive explanations of each listing will teach
you many techniques of ZX81 programming.
HOURS OF AMUSEMENT
With titles such as FORTRESS, BALLOON, and ODD MAN
OUT, you could easily become a ZX81 addict. Plus,
entirely new implementations of well-known favourites;
LUNAR LANDING, MASTER CODE, ORBITAL INVADERS,
and many others.
CASSETTE AVAILABLE TOO!
If you order the book you can also buy the
programs on a quality cassette for only
£4.95 extra.
Please send me;
copies of the book at
£4.95 each
copies of the book and
cassette at £9.90 pair
Please send your orders
with cheques/PO's to:
Richard Francis, Dept PCW
22 Foxhollow, Barhill,
Cambridge, CB3 8EP.
CASCADE COMPUTERS
OF NEWBURY
Telephone:
( 0635 ) 201591
for the full range of
Apple products, Apple
compatible peripherals
and these high quality
software products:
* Financial modelling with Micro Modeller + Decision
Modeller
* Decision Evaluation with VisiCalc, Desk Top, Visi Plant,
Visi Trend, + Visi Decks.
* Integrated Accounts with TABS Accounting Business
Systems.
* Word Processing with AppleWRiter and Word Star.
* Portable Software Development with CIS-COBOL and
PASCAL.
Attention Atom Owners
become
WORD PERFECT
WITH THE NEW ATOM WORD PACK
. 1 . p 1 . n
ATOM WORD PACK
A combined text editor and word
processor ROM for the Acorn ATOM
; needs IK text memory and 6K gr
aphics.
The ATOM Uord Pack is ideal for
the preparation of leaflets; let
ters; booklets; and documents. T
ext can be edited; saved on cass
ette or disk; and printed out in
any desired format. BASIC progr
arts; and data created by program
s, can also be edited. There is
no limit on the size of the docu
ment that can be created/ as lar
ge documents can be broken into
sections of convenient size.
p 0 1 > “
The ATOM word pack is ideal for the preparation of leaflets, letters,
booklets and documents. Text can be edited, saved on cassette or
disk and then printed out in any desired format. BASIC programs
and data created by programs can also be edited. The Word Pack is
a 4K ROM which simply plugs into the ATOM'S utility ROM
socket and adds EDIT and TEXT to the command set. Complete
with a 16 page booklet giving full instructions and examples. Just
£29.90 including post, packing and insurance.
MATHS PACK 1
Plot A versatile graph-plotting
package for research,accounting,
schools and mathematics, or
simply for amusement. Program
5K, graphics 6K.
Simultaneous Solves a set of
simultaneous equations, with
integer or real coefficients.
Program 2K, graphics V 2 K.
Regression Calculates the best¬
fitting straight line to a specified
set of data points, gives the
equation and the correlation
coefficient. Program 2K,
graphics V 2 K.
ORDER TODAY!
Just send a cheque or money order for only £11.50 per pack
(£29.90 for the word pack) including VAT and post and packing
State which packs you want.
Or ring 0223 316039 or 01-930 1614 quoting your
Access or Barclaycard number. Allow 14 days for delivery.
Or if you think you can wait for more details just write to
Acornsoft Limited, 4a Market Hill, Cambridge
4C0RNS6FT
Also Available:
SOFT VDU
The soft VDU replaces the
normal ATOM VDU, but
provides 128 characters includ¬
ing upper and lower-case letters,
and mathematical symbols.
Program 1.5K, graphics 6K.
UTILITY PACK 1
Disassembler Lists machine
code in standard ATOM assem¬
bler form, or stores the assembler
text into memory. Graphics 2K.
Fast Cos Modifies the ATOM'S
standard cassette-interface
routines to operate at 1200
baud, or 4 times faster. Program
IK.
Renumber A fast renumber for
BASIC or assembler programs,
gives display of the numbers for
labelled lines. Program 1 K.
> fl TOM SOFT UDU
>Lo*tr-cn* cKir»ct*r *»t
! )*♦, - -'0123456789 : ;<->?
SflBCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUUWXVZC s3*
' »bcd*f«hi j klnnopqr*tuvwxyz< !>~ |
PCW 227
AGfire main
Gate now sole UK Distributors for Strategic Simulations Inc!
Quality Games for your Apple!
2 more great new games from Strategic Simulations
Computer Quarterback & President Elect available now,
from Gatepost - see below!
From Strategic Simulations, we can now offer:
COMPUTER QUARTERBACK (48k-D). A real time strategy football
game for 1 or 2 players. Pick your own team! £27.00
PRESIDENT ELECT (48k-D). Change the course of history — rerun the
last 2 elections - stand yourself! £27.00
COMPUTER NAPOLEONICS (48k-D). Traditional wargame - 1 or 2
players - meticulous detail and realism £40.50
COMPUTER BISMARK (48k-D). Simulation of this historic ship's
battle with British Home Fleet. 1 or 2 players. £40.50
COMPUTER AMBUSH (48k-D). World War II man-to-man street fight
in French town. 7 scenarios, 1 or 2 players. £40.50
COMPUTER CONFLICT (48k-D). 2 Games for 1 or 2 players in HIRES
graphics — modern warfare with tanks and infantry £27.00
COMPUTER AIR COMBAT (48k-D). 36 famous World War II planes
accurately simulated, HIRES graphics, 1 or 2 players £40.50
OPERATION APOCALYPSE (48k-D). HIRES graphics, 4 scenarios of
WWII. 1 or 2 players recreate actual battles. £40.50
TORPEDO FIRE (48k-D). 3-D graphics periscope view of fleet of 30
different WWII vessels. 1 or 2 players. £40.50
THE WARP FACTOR (48k-D). 1 or 2 player strategy space game with
12 starship designs - light years ahead of the rest! £27.00
CARTELS AND CUTTHROATS (48k-D). 1 to 6 player business
strategy game. You select difficulty (advanced version will beat the
boss!) — an accurate business simulation. £27.00
THE SHATTERED ALLIANCE (48k-D). First in a new series - send
for full details. £40.50
Of course we still stock the best from other software houses! Our most
popular sellers are-
SARGON II (24k-D). The champion chess game for Apple £23.85
A2-FS1 FLIGHT SIMULATOR (34k-D). Extended and improved
version, including British Ace 3D Aerial Battle Game £23.60
THE PRISONER (48k-D). A nightmare world of 1984 — very difficult
- uses every trick, including subliminal techniques £21.00
THE WIZARD AND THE PRINCESS (48k-D). This has to be the best
HIRES adventure game. 100s of pictures. We're still trying to get past
the giant! £23.00
METEOROIDS IN SPACE (32K-D) improved version of
asteroids in space. Watch out for debris — and aliens! £14.40
SPACE (48k-D). Simulation of human life in space. You develop
characters and games. £20.35
SPACE EGGS (48k-D). Shoot down the aliens as they hatch - great
arcade game £20.35
ADVENTURE LAND (32k-C) An enchanted world of lost treasures,
wild animals and magical beings. £10.15
TEMPLE OF APSHAI (48k-D) Mythical labyrinth with fearsome
monsters and treasure. £27.15
SAUCER WARS (24k-C) One person game with 150 levels o{
difficulty. £11.55
GOLF (20k-C) 18 holes for 1 or 2 players - full choice of clubs and
direction. £5.55
AIR FLIGHT SIMULATION (16k-C) ONLY £7.15
———NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW ———-
POOL 1.5 (48k-D) Fantastic! 4 different games of pool. Fine
tune shots for great accuracy. Great graphics £25.25
3-D SKIING (48k-D) Ski slalom with real time skiing! 3
course, ski jump and good graphics. Up to 4 players. £18.10
SUPER SOUND (32k-D) Allows you to produce a wide variety
of noises to put in your own programmes £12.25
CRANSTON MANOR (48k-D) At last! The sequel to Wizard &
Princess! Every bit as good — and difficult! £23.80
Plain Brown Envelope Department
INTERLUDE (32k-D) or (16k-C) Rediscover the playful, the
erotic side to your relationships! VERY comprehensive
manual!! £12.25
£14.50
SOFTPORN ADVENTURE (48k-D) On Line. Find and seduce
3 girls! Win the money to do this at the casino! You have to
be creative in your approach! Not easy, this one! £21.60
PORNOPOLY - Not yet in stock, but said to contain
HIRES! £21.60
Send large S.A.E. for our full list. (3rd Edition).
DOS BOSS (32k-D) Dos 3.3 Super value utility change dos, rename
commands, plus lots more! Loads of tips in manual £16.25
BEAGLE BROTHERS GAME PACKS (32k-D) 4 different packs of
super games even includes magic tricks! Each pack £16.25
GAMMA GOBLINS (48k-D) Defend your body against all manner of
intravenous nasties. Super HIRES arcade game £23.1 5
GORGON (48k-D) Gorgons materialise from air to steal your man.
Defend him with your fighter. Beats space invaders out of sight for
HIRES graphics and action. Easily worth £30.85
PLUS LOTS MORE!! Send large stamped addressed envelope for our
full list.
All programmes listed above are written in Applesoft or machine code.
C = on cassette. D = on diskette.
ALL THE ABOVE PRICES ALREADY INCLUDE VAT! Just add 50p
for post & packing and send your order with cheque or PO to our
address below.
prices are subject to change in the event of dollar fluctuations.
STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS
SERIOUS STUFF DEPARTMENT
THE FAST ONE - no not LAST, FAST!
THE HAYDEN APPLESOFT COMPILER We've Bench
marked it and amazed ourselves with the results! It's selling
like hot cakes, and no wonder!
S.A.E. for details and benchmark, or for the full kit £125.00
Dealer enquiries welcome. plus VAT and £1.00 p&p
GHIE fTHCROSVSTETlS LKTOTEQ
The Nethergate Centre, 35 Yeaman Shore,
Dundee.
MASTER THE
MIGHTY MICRO.
RENT OR PURCHASE A MICRO
We supply micro wordprocessing and accountancy
microcomputer systems for full home and office use. A complete
micro system including printer with full wordprocessing is
£12.50 a week.
TAILOR MADE SOFTWARE
The micro should fit your company, not your company the
micro. We produce programs and systems that do exactly what
you want in your business.
TRAINING COURSES
Training courses in wordprocessing, micro operating, micro
computers, micro processing and micro data processing for
executives, secretaries, businessmen, students, accountancy
personnel and hobbyists. These short courses are attended week
days, evenings and weekends and are all with ‘hands
on experience’.
TEL:
01*730-8791
TODAY
LONDON
MICRO
CENTRE
only 3 mins j£)g£^BEtci uvE s7
from
Victoria
Station
“ THE LONDON ~
MICRO CENTRE
47, Lower Belgrave St., London, SW1.
THE WESTFARTHING—
SMALL BUSINESS SYSTEM
is almost the only integrated accounting and invoicing
system specially written for the 1 to 10-man business
and professional practice. It is user-modifiable (a main
selling point), has been on sale for over a year, and no
user has reported a bug over the last few months. The
retail price is £500.
The program is written for the Apple, and versions are
being prepared for Superbrain, Sharp, Tandy and
sorceror machines.
Applications are invited for exclusive rights to market
the system:
(1) for a specific micro, other than the above makes
(2) for Apple or ofher computers in a foreign country
-no need to re-apply if you are already in touch with us-
ln each case the financial outlay involved would be
around £2,000.
Also (3) we welcome more U K. dealers for the Apple
version. No further payment than the kit charge is
required before a sale is made.
An approval kit, consisting of demo disc, manual and
sales literature costs £20 + VAT.
Westfarthing
Computer Services Ltd.
21 Wendron 5t. Helston. Cornwall.
Tehhelston [03265] 4098.
228 PCW
Personal
Comput
COMPUTERS FO
Atari 400 computer £345
WITH FREE JOYSTICKS
Atari 800 computer £625
WITH FREE JOYSTICKS
Atari 410 cassette £45
Atari 810 disk drive £325
Atari 16k RAM
module
£63
ATARI SOFTWARE
Cartridge
Asteroids
£29.95
Basketball
£29.95
Chess
£29.95
Music Composer
£32.50
Star Raiders
£29.95
Super Breakout
£29.95
Cassette
Blackjack
£8.95
Energy Czar
£8.95
Europe
£8.95
Graph It
£11.95
Hangman
£8.95
Scram
£12.95
Space Invaders
£12.95
New generation micros for family entertain¬
ment and education. Amazing sound and
graphics direct from your colour T.V. give
you the best games available. Atari from
Personal Computer Palace provides easy
reliability at a price you can afford.
e r
Pa I ace
video genie
We have the Video Genie in stock with
free sound, lower case and dust cover at
£367 inc. programs and manuals.
f^cippkz computer
The Apple computer system is on show
with a wide selection of software,
supported by trained sales and engin¬
eering staff.
Centronics, Epson and Atari printers in
stock at competitive prices, good service.
All our equipment is covered by the
unique Personal Computer Palace Service,
which provides free carriage, one year
parts & labour guarantee and optional
maintenance contracts.
Goods are despatched same day as order
received. Please write your order care¬
fully or phone us for information/order
form. Callers welcome. Open 9.00-6.00
closed Wednesday.
6 Castle Street,
Reading, Berkshire.
Tel.(0734)589249
We offer the following quality software for NASCOM systems:
NASPAS - a 12k PASCAL compiler which produces Z80 code
directly, i.e. no P-code. The compiler offers floating point and
integer arithmetic, arrays, sets, stringsand all major Pascal statements
together with fully recursive functions and procedures with value
and variable parameters. The object program runs very quickly.
Price: £35.00
NASMON — A new monitor for NASCOMs. Occupies 4k and includes
a sophisticated screen editor, a 'front panel' mode, blocked and
buffered tape routines and powerful debugging commands. Price:
£30.00 in EPROM
BAS12K — a 12K BASIC interpreter offering 11 digit precision
arithmetic, PRINT USING, IF. . .THEN. . . ELSE and other advanced
features. Price:£25.00
NASGEN — a fast 3K assembler generating a full symbol table and
with many assembler directives and commands. Price: £15.00 on
tape, £2.5.00 in EPROM.
NASNEM — a 2/ 2 K disassembler which interfaces to NASCOM's
front panel to produce single step disassembly. Optionally it produces
labels and o/p may be directed to a text buffer suitable for NASGEN.
Price: £10.00 on tape, £15.00 in EPROM.
All the above software runs under NASMON except NASPAS
which can run under NASMON or NAS-SYS. All prices are fully
inclusive.
FREE: a free CHESS program with every order of NASMON.
GEMINI DISK OWNERS: HISOFT offer a Z80 development pack¬
age to run under CP/M 1.4 on the Gemini Floppy Disk System.
Included in the package are:
— a powerful screen editor.
— a fast Z80 assembler with conditional assembly.
— a debugger based on the Front Pane! of NASMON together with a
labelling Z80 disassembler. All this for the inclusive price of: £501
Send for details NOW.
Full details may be obtained from:
HISOFT 60 HALLAM MOOR,
LIDEN, SWINDON, WILTSHIRE.
ZX81
VK ATOM
Make the most of your microcomputer with our range of
proven books:
□ GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH YOUR VIC
□ GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH YOUR
ACORN ATOM
□ GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH YOUR ZX81
(Each of the above contain around 80 programs)
□ THE GATEWAY GUIDE TO THE ZX81
& ZX80
(ZX BASIC explained in detail, 60 programs)
□ MASTERING MACHINE CODE ON YOUR
ZX80 & ZX81
□ INTERFACE, monthly ZX81, ZX80and Acorn
Atom magazine. £8.50 for 12 copies, £1 for sample
copy.
Send this ad., or a copy, with cheque to:
INTERFACE, Dept PCW, 44 Earls Court Road,
London W8 6EJ.
INTERFACE
£5.95
£7.95
£4.95
£5.95
£4.95
PCW 229
LEVEL II
CASSETTE
GAMES
Adventures
Special Sampler* .£6.50
Adventureland* .£13.50
Pirates Adventure* .£13.50
Mission Impossible* ....£13.50
Vodoo Castle* .£13.50
The Count* .£13.50
Strange Odyssey* .£13.50
Mystery Fun House* . . . .£13.50
Pyramid of Doom* .£13.50
Ghost Town* .£13.50
Kid Venture.£13.50
Savage Island* .£13.50
Crowley Manor* .£13.50
Air Raid* .£7.50
Air Traffic Control* .£8.50
Amazin' Mazes .£5.50
Android NIM .£7.50
Attack Force* .£10.50
Backgammon .£6.50
Barricade* .£7.50
Battle Bastogne .£10.50
Battle St. Vlth .£10.50
Battleship .£7.50
Bee Wary .£7.50
Bingo .£5.00
Bowling (Ten Pin) .£6.50
Bridge Partner .£13.50
Chess Partner* .£9.50
Cosmic Fighter* .£10.50
Cribbage .£6.50
Datestones of Ryn .£17.50
D-Day .£10.50
Death Dreadnaught* .£10.50
Duel & Droids .£10.50
The Empire Strikes .£10.50
End Zone II .£6.50
Fastgammon* .£14.00
Galactic Empire .£10.50
Galactic Revolution .£10.50
Galactic Trader .£10.50
Galaxy Invasion* .£10.50
Game of Life* .£6.50
Gammon Challenger* . .£10.50
Gangster .£5.50
Hangman.£5.50
Hellhre Warrior .£20.50
Ching .£6.50
Interlude* .£12.00
Invasion Orion .£17.50
Invaders from Space* ....£10.50
Kamikaze .£6.50
TRS-80 OWNERS!
MODELS I & III
Kreigspiel II.
£10.50
Direct Function Graph
. £10.50
Labyrinth* .
. . £10.50
Editor Assembler Plus*
. £20.50
Life Two .
. . £10.50
Electric Pencil*.
. £50.00
Lost Dutchman's Gold
. . . . £9.50
Electronics Assistant . ...
. . £7.50
Lunar Lander* .
. . £10.50
EMU 02* (requires TBUG)
.£17.00
Mean Checkers* .
£11.00
ESP Tester.
. . £5.00
Meteor Mission* .
. . . £10.50
File Handling .
. . £7.50
Morloc's Tower .
. . . £17.50
Finance Pack.
. . £7.50
Noughts & Crosses ....
. . . . £5.00
Finplan .
. £35.00
Othello III
. . . . £6.50
Flight Simulator* .
. £17.00
Olympic Decathlon* .
. . . £20.50
Forth* (incl. Primer) .
. £42.00
Pentominoes .
.. .. £6.50
GSF* .
. £19.50
Pinball* .
. . . £10.50
General Accounting .
. . £8.50
Pork Barrel .
. . . . £6.50
Ham Radio .
.. £7.50
Planetoids* .
. . . £10.50
Histograph/Scattergram .
. . £8.50
PR Dogfight.
. . . . £6.50
Home Finance .
. . £6.50
Rescue at Rigel .
. . . £17.50
Infinite Basic* .
. £34.00
Reversi .
. . . £20.50
Infinite Business* .
. £20.50
Round The Horn .
.... £6.50
Instant Calculator .
£8.50
Safari .
. . . . £6.50
Inventory Control .
. £11.00
Sargon II* .
. . . £20.50
Inventory 'S' .
. £17.00
Snake Eggs .
.. . . £7 50
IPV* .
£17.00
Space Battles .
... . £7.50
Keyboard 80* .
. . £7 50
Starfleet Orion .
£14.00
KVP* .
. £10 50
Startrek III. 5 .
. . £10.50
Level III Basic* .
. £34.00
Super Nova* .
. . £10.50
Linear Programming .
. . £7.50
Taipan .
. . . . £6.50
Magic Paper Calculator
. . £9 50
Temple of Asphai .
. . £17.50
Mathdrill .
. . £5.50
Time Trek* .
. .. £10.50
Maths Library 1 .
. £10.50
Trolls Gold .
... £4.50
Maths Library II .
£10.50
Turret & Track .
. ... £7.50
Memdump* .
. . £8.50
Up Periscope .
. ..£10.50
Mortgage Calculator.
. . £5.00
Warfare 1 .
.... £6.00
Pascal*.
. £26.00
Warpath .
. .. £10.50
Periodical X-REF .
. £10.50
X-Wing Fighter II .
. . . . £7.50
Personal Finance .
. . £7.50
EDUCATIONAL
Spelling Builder .£13.00
All other PDI Pgms .£10.50
Teachers Assistant I .£9.50
Teachers Assistant II.£9.50
Teachers Assistant III .£9.50
Semi Conductor Theory . . . £9.50
9 Games for Preschoolers . .£7.50
BUSINESS & UTILITIES
Accounts Receivable II . £13.50
Amateur Astronomer .£9.50
APL 80* .£10.50
Basic IP* .£11.50
Basic Toolkit* .£12.50
Biorythms .£5.50
Calendar Functions.£7.50
Cash Register £6.50
Copys* .£10.50
Data Base II .£17.00
Debug* .£13.50
Pilot 2.2* .£10.50
Pre-Flight.£10.50
Remodel & Proload* .£25.00
Renumber* .£7.50
RPN Calculator .£7.50
RSM 2 Monitor* .£16.00
SCRIPSIT* .£42.95
Screen Hold* .£6.00
Statistics .£6.50
S.T.A.D.* .£17.00
ST-80* .£34.00
Super Pirns Data Base . . £10.50
Super Simon .£7.50
Super T-Legs* .£7.50
T-Step* .£7.50
System Copy* .£9.50
T-Short* .£6.50
T-Short** .£14 00
Tarot Cards .£6.50
Timser* .£10.50
Tiny Comp . ..£14.00
TRS80 Opera* .£7.50
Typing Tutor.£13.50
Ultra Mon* .£17.00
X-Ref* .£9.50
Y-Y Bar .£10.50
76 Basic Programs .£23.00
Manual for Above .£8.00
Library 100 .£40.00
DISK
Accounts Receivable II . . £40.00
Advanced Personal
Finance .£17.00
Amateur Radio System ..£17.00
APL 80 .£30.00
Auto Disk Directory.£10.50
Basic Compiler .£120.00
Cash Register + Inventory £40.00
CCA Data Management £52.50
Comproc .£13.50
Data Base II .£30.00
DCV-1 .£9.50
Dosort .£25.00
Dynamic Data Base.£22.50
Electric Pencil .£75.00
File Manager 80 £30.00
Floppy Disk Diagnostic . £13.50
Forth (inc. Primer) .£45.00
Forth Datahandler.£40.00
Forth Utilities Disk.£27.50
Inventory Control .£50.00
Inventory ‘S' .£40.00
KVP Extender .£17.00
MailistIV .£45.00
Mychess .£25.00
Newdos 80 V2.0 .£97.50
Newdos -I- .£47.50
Office Accounting .£20.00
Pascal .£35.00
Penpatch .£11.00
Pencil PAL .£17.00
Roots .£17.00
RSM 2D Monitor .£20.00
Sargon II .£25.00
SCRIPSIT* .£65.00
Simplify It .£15.00
Space Intruders .£20.00
ST80D* .£45.00
ST80D III* .£95.00
SUPERSCRIPT* .£20.50
Visicalc* .£65.00
Taranto & Associates Conversion
of Osbourne & Associates Business
Programmes
Accounts Payable .£90.00
Accounts Receivable £90.00
Invoicing for above £70.00
General Ledger
includes Cash Journal £90.00
Manuals for above (3) £32.00
Complete Co-ordinated System
with Manuals .£300.00
MODEL II
CPM2.2.X .£165.00
CBasic (CPM) .£80.00
Disk Sort Merge .£95.00
Development System . . .. £80.00
G.S.F.£35.00
Pascal .from £125.00
Reference II .£35.00
RM Cobol .from £350.00
RSM II Monitor.£35.00
Supersort III (CPM) .£90.00
Utility Package .£95.00
Hard Disk Operating Sys . £300.00
WORD PROCESSORS
Electric Pencil II (CP/M) . .£200.00
Electric Pencil II TRSDOS £225.00
Magic Wand (CP/M) £230.00
Wordstar (CP/M) .£275.00
BUSINESS SYSTEMS
Accounting .from £150.00
Mailist .from £100.00
Medical .from £100.00
Property Analysis .£175.00
CP/M USERS GROUP
23 Volumes.Each £12.00
ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT AT
15%, PACKAGING & RETURN
POSTAGE TO U K ADDRESSES
PRICES TO OVERSEAS
ADDRESSES INCLUDE RETURN
AIRMAIL SEND £1 00 FOR NEW
DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE
"Denotes Machine Language
TRS-80 Trademark of Tandy Corp.
CP/M Trademark of Digital Res.
C-Basic Trademark of Compiler
Systems.
ALL PRICES SUBJECT TO
CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
MICROCOMPUTER
APPLICATIONS
42A CHURCH STREET,
CAVERSHAM, READING
RG4 8AU, ENGLAND
TEL: (0734)470425
THE
SUPERBRAM
CENTRE
47, Lower Belgrave St., London, SW1.
Visit the Superbrain centre to see wordprocessing
systems and business systems with your own tailormade
software.
Software includes customer and invoice system, leads
and sales system. VAT output and debtors, insurance
agents system, car sales program, order processing
program.
SPECIAL OFFER!
SUPERBRAIN FOR ONLY £1,550 "
"Subject to dollar surcharge.
We provide any printer to fit the Superbrain e.g. Qume,
Starwriter, Spinwriter, Centronics 737 etc
★ Special Educational Discounts
★ Demonstrations and Quotes given
★ Free catalogues on request
TEL:
01-730-8791
TODAY
^ - A
only 3 mins ■>> “'**"’*
from — tr
Victoria
Station
47, Lower Belgrave Street, London, SW1.
Tel: 01 730-8791 AN EMG COMPANY
★ Written for the beginner
★ Easy, understandable
writing style
( ★Glossary of
micro terms #
In
writing
this book
Alec Wood has
set out to dispel
the mystique that
surrounds the
microprocessor. He tells
u ) you what a microprocessor
v is, what binary arithmetic
is, and how the microprocessor
uses it to carry out arithmetical
operations. If you have ever been
confused by microprocessors, this book
is for you.
Illustrated Paperback 160 pages
216 x 138mm 0 408 00580 7 £4.95
Practical Microprocessor Systems
Ian R. Sinclair
★ Describes the microprocessor A book for those wishing to get to
as part of a system grips with the practical
_ . aspects of microprocessors.
★ Covers practical aspects p or the student, technician or
home enthusiast.
Illustrated Paperback 144 pages CA QC -
216 x138mm 0 408 00496 7
Order NOW-from your local bookseller
Particulars of other books on Computers available upon request or in case of difficulty
send cash with order to Patricia Davies, Marketing Manager at the address below
4 >;>T\lf ewne s Technical Books
Borough Green,Sevenoaks,Kent TN15 8PH ( pcw/i i.si)
230 PCW
There’s only one word for a
boss who expects 800 letters
by coffee break, 100 mailings
by lunchtime, 2S0 price lists
by teatime and a couple of
complex documents
before you leave...
Wordcraft. It transforms your PET microcomputer
into a word processor. But Wordcraft Software isn't
just about producing large quantities of work.
Retyping becomes a thing of the past. Corrections
can be done on the machine before the final copy is
typed. Everything is stored in the memory so you can
have as many perfect copies as you want, as and when
you want them.
Commodore-approved Wordcraft takes advantage
of today's 'daisywheel' printer's features. Just to make
sure you get the kind of quality of typing you're used to.
At very reasonable cost.
Finally, using Wordcraft doesn't affect the PET's
equipment-so think how handy it could be in your
business.
For further information: microprocessor services
M.M S. LTD
Bedford 0234 40601
CAMDEN ELECTRONICS LTD
Birmingham BIO OUG 021-773 8240
CBS CONSULTANTS LTD
Birmingham B9 4HW 021-772 8181
CPS (DATA SYSTEMS) LTD
Birmingham 021-707 3866
CSM LTD
Birmingham 021-382 4171
MICRO ASSOCIATES
BirminghamA/Valsall 021-328 4574
JOSEPH WARE & ASSOCIATES
Birmingham B1 1LS 021-643 8033
DIXON-MARTIN SYSTEMS LTD
Birmingham B26 3NX 021-742 8771
PEACH DATA SERVICES
Burton-on Trent 0283 44968
DAVIDSON RICHARDS LTD
Derby 0332 366803
DAVINCI COMPUTER SHOP
Edgware 01-952 0526
A C. SYSTEMS
Exeter 0392 71718
MICROFACILITIES
Hampton Hill 01-9411197
SOUTH EAST COMPUTERS
Hastings 0424 426844
0482 23146
0536 520910
01-579 5845
01-5836774
01-878 7044
01-222 1122
Hull
H.B COMPUTERS
Kettering
ADDA COMPUTERS
London W13
MERCHANT SYSTEMS LTD
London EC4
MICRO COMPUTER CENTRE
London SW14
LOGIC COMPUTER SYSTEMS
London SW1
CYBERNETIC TEACHING SYSTEMS
Long Eaton 0332 810639
H.B COMPUTERS (LUTON)LTD
Luton 0582 416887
CYTEK (UK) LTD
Manchester 061-872 4682
CLAREMONT CONTROLS
Newcastle 0632 610210
KEY COMPUTER SERVICES
Newcastle 0632 815157
C.S.E. (COMPUTERS)
Reading 0734 61492
COMPUTER CENTRE (SHEFFIELD) LTD
Sheffield 0742 588731
TAYLOR WILSON SYSTEMS LTD
Solihull 05645 6192
INTEX DATAL0G LTD
Stockton-on-Tees 0642 781193
or contact
Dataview, Portreeves House, East Bay,
Colchester C012XB Telephone Colchester 10206) 865835 The better business shop
Dataview
Does your microcomputer
suffer from
hiccups?
If so, quite often the cause of irregular
performance or breakdown is very simple.
It’s probably a high voltage spike in the
electricity supply, called a transient, affecting
the performance. Heavy electrical loads in the
vicinity of your microcomputer (from domestic
electrical appliances to office photo-copiers)
can often cause voltage transients, which in
turn, play havoc with both hardware and
software.
The Reguvolt ‘P’ Model Constant Voltage
Transformer provides the answer to a very
simple yet aggravating problem, offering the
following benefits to safeguard your supply
sensitive computer and equipment.
• Transient suppression — gives software
and hardware protection.
• Brownout protection — prevents micro
interruptions and system crashes.
• Isolated secondary circuitry — gives •
complete electrical isolation between mains
and computer.
• Fast voltage stabilisation — prevents VDU
screen drift and complete system failure.
• Automatic overload current limited —
protects equipment against damage during a
fault condition.
• Low frequency mains harmonics removed,
preventing VDU flicker and circuit overload.
The complete range of Reguvolt ‘P’ models,
from 1/2 to 2 amp ratings (ie. 120VA to 500VA)
are available from stock.
Should you require further details, please fill
in the coupon, or, if you prefer, give us a call.
Cetronic Limited
Hoddesdon Road. Stanstead Abbotts.
Ware. Herts SG12 8EJ. England
Tel Ware (0920) 871077 Telex 817293
l Please send me further information on your
1 range of Reguvolt ‘P’ Model Constant Voltage
| Transformers.
| Name
Company
| Address
I Telephone
PCW 231
Micros have really taken off in Cambridge!
• Acorn Atom
• Commodore Vic
• UK 101 kit computer
• Sharp pocket computer
• WordStar/DataStar
• Plotters/Digitisers
• Electronic components
First time buyer or experienced user? See what's best in microcomputers today,
all generally on demonstration and available from stock at
• Apple II
• Hewlett-Packard HP-85
• Commodore Pet
• TRS-80 Model I, II frill
• Communicator
• North Star Horizon
• Daisy-Wheel printers
Cambridge Computer Store
1 Emmanuel Street Cambridge CB1 1 NE
Telephone (0223) 65335/4
• Compare & Save
[cippkz H
europlus
48 K
£695-'
^pson
^ MX-80 F/T2
£399
+ VAT
Complete 48K with Games
Paddles manuals + 12
Months Warranty
Service available nationwide
(CipplG
DiskH
With 3.3 Controller £350
Without Controller £279
Hardware
Apple Graphics Tablet £413
Parallel Interface £79
Apple Serial Interface £89
Apple Centronics Interface £99
Apple PRESTEL Interface £536
12" Green Monitor/cable f 156
Epsom MX100 Hi-Res Printer £517
Paper Tiger 560 Printer £795
Apple Silentype Printer £170
Epsom MX80FT1 Printer £359
The Best Buy in Printers Today
9 ■ 9 Matrix with 40, 60, 80,
132 Columns
Friction Et Tractor Feed With
High Resolution Graphics
f Software
3.3 VISICALC II
£99
VISIPLOT
£89
Visidex
£99
Desktop Plan
£99
D B Master (data base)
£109
Data Plot
£49
Apple PI 3t
£33
Musicomp
£21
Galactic Wars
£16
1 Anti-Ballistic Missiles
£17
miCROSAV€
68 Alma Road
Bristol BS8 2DJ
Mail Order Desk
0272-37555
PLEASE REMEMBER TO ADD 15% VAT
ALL PRICES ARE FOR MAIL ORDER ONLY MAIL ORDER SALES AT SHOWROOM
WE TRY TO KEEP PRICES STABLE BUT THEY ARE LIABLE TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
frppkz computer
Level 1 Service Centre
Apple Software Experts:
C E S I L H
Barristers' Accounts
Technical "Page" Database
CARDIFF
micro
COMPUTERS
46 Charles Street
Tel: 373072
OPEN ALL DAY SATURDAYS
ATOM
IN
STOCK
PUTER
232 PCW
World's most powerf ull
BASIC pocket computer
CASIO FX-702P
- 70*?
(RRP £134.95)
ONLY £119.95
High-speed computer using BASIC Language, with program/data storage on cassette
tape via optional FA-2 adaptor.
AVAILABLE SOON: Plug-in ROM program modules and FP-10 Mini Printer for
program/data printout.
LCD dot matrix scrolling display. Input can be varied from 1680 program steps,
with 26 independent memories, to 80 program steps with 226 memories, all protec¬
ted (non-volatile). Up to 10 programs (P0 to P9) can be stored.
Subroutines: 10 levels. FOR NEXT looping, 8 levels.
Debugging by tracing. Editing by moving cursor.
55 built-in functions including Regressional Analysis and Correlation Coefficient all
usable in programs. Program/data storage on cassette tape. Two lithium batteries
give approximately 200 hours continuous use, with Auto Power Off after 6 mins,
disuse.
Dimensions: 17x166x82mm (| x6'/i"x3V*"). Weight 180g (6.3oz).
FX-602P Advanced programmable. Up to 512 steps £74.95
* * * NEW * * * FX-3600P 38 program steps £22.95
World's most versatile
alarm chronograph
watch
CASIO AX-210
10 alternative displays
Over 60 useful functions
ANALOGUE display of time plus:-
♦ Digital time display, 12 or 24 hour system
♦ Digital date, month and year, plus day flag
♦ Full month calendar display, current month.
♦ Full month calendar display, next month.
Auto calendar pre-programmed to the year 2029.
Dual time modes.
♦ANALOZUE display of local time, plus digital
second time zone, 12 or 24 hour system.
Alarm mode.
♦ ANALOGUE time with "Alarm Set" digital
time. 24 hour system AM/PM and "alarm on"
indicators.
Buzzer for 20 seconds, or select "Dixieland"
"Greensleeves" or "My Darling Clementine."
Hourly time signal.
"Big Ben" chimes at noon. Easily switched on
or off.
(RRP £34.95)
ONLY £29.95
Countdown alarm timer mode
♦ Amazing ANALOGUE display, plus digital countdown. Normal and net times from 1
to 60 minutes with automatic retrieval of pre-entered time.
Stopwatch mode
♦ ANALOGUE countup, with digital timing of net, lap and first and second place times
from 1/100 sec to 1 hour. Confirmation signal.
Easy setting of times and alarm with forward and backward stepping and rapid run
facility. Dimensions: 9.25 x 35 x 36mm approx. Mineral glass. Long life lithium battery.
Accuracy +/— 15 seconds/month.
SHORT FORM CATALOGUE ON REQUEST. 14p stamp appreciated.
Delivery normally by return of post. Prices include VAT and P&P. Send your cheque,
P.O. or phone your ACCESS or B'CARD number to:
TEMBUS
THE LEADING U.K.SPECIALISTS
DEPT. PCW
164/167 East Road, Cambridge CB1 1DB
Telephone: 0223 312866
THE MOST COMPLETE SYSTEM
AVAILABLE
• HIGH SPEED, HIGH VOLUME DATA
ENTRY.
• ALL REPORTS CAN BE DISPLAYED OR
PRINTED.
• FINAL ACCOUNTS CAN BE SET OUT
IN ANY DESIRED FORMAT.
• LIBRARY ROUTINES, TO ARCHIVE
CLIENT DETAILS ON THE DISK.
• LINKS TO WORDSTAR OR ANY WORD
PROCESSORS.
• HANDLES SOLE TRADERS, PARTNER¬
SHIPS AND LIMITED COMPANIES.
FULL SYSTEM INCLUDING A MICRO
WITH 400K DISKS, DAISY WHEEL
PRINTER (600 cps), WORDSTAR AND
SOFTWARE ABOVE PLUS TIME
RECORDING.£3700
INCOMPLETE RECORDS
SOFTWARE ONLY.£450
SOFTWARE & WORDSTAR.£700
ALL PRICES EXCLUDE VAT
BOOK KEEPING SYSTEM £395
(FOR RETAIL OR SMALL
BUSINESSES)
INCLUDING MICRO COMPUTER AND
EPSON PRINTER.£2250
INTEGRATED ACCOUNTS £400
(INVOICING, SALES, PURCHASE,
NOMINAL AND STOCK RECORDING)
INCLUDING MICRO COMPUTER AND
EPSON PRINTER.£2250
SOURCE PROGRAMS ARE
AVAILABLE ON ALL SYSTEMS
SHELTON SIC/NET AND KARADAWN
MICRO COMPUTERS ON DISPLAY.
♦FOR MORE DETAILS PHONE OR
WRITE TO:
92 CANAL LANE
LOFTHOUSE GATE
WAKEFIELD, W. YORKS.
0924 826236
PCW 233
THE magazine
for Apple users
MAKE your Apple more powerful and
your programs more exciting
READ in-depth analyses of the latest
developments on the Apple scene
LEARN to make the most of Apple’s
remarkable high-resolution graphics
GET TO GRIPS with Apple’s ever-growing
music and speech capabilities
PLAY the newest Apple games and have
fun with the help of our experts
KEEP in touch with Britain’s growing
army of Apple owners and users groups
DISCOVER how the Apple is scoring in
business, industry and education
FIND OUT what’s coming next in Apple-
compatible hardware and software
Keep up to date
with the rapidly
changing world
of the Apple
Please send me the next 12 issues of Windfall
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Post to: Windfall, Europa House,
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PCW/11/81
SID 1: THE COLOURFUL CARD
Full-resolution 8-colour S100 graph display card
For use with
all S100 machines
8 colours at full
(312X290) resolution
64 K bytes of
bit-mapped screen
RGB non-interlaced
Disc software for
Dynabyte, North Star,
Comart Communicator
Cromemco, etc.
Only £389 + VAT
HI TECH ELECTRONICS
54 HIGH ROAD. SWAYTHUNG SOUTHAMPTON S02 2JF
TEL 0703 581555 TELEX NO 47388 HTEl
ZX81 VIC-20
ACORN ATOM
i SUPERB SOFTWARE
| ZX81 16K SOFTWARE
The following is a list of our 16K ZX81 Software (which fit into 11 K)
Code and contents
Details
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL:
An absorbing simulation of air traffic control over
a busy airport. Animated display shows radar
screen with moving aircraft with name tags and a
list of call sign, height, speed, heading is displayed;
by contacting the pilot you must bring in all the
planes without them hitting the mountains or
running out of fuel.
INVADERS + Self play vers:
A ZX81 implementation of the arcade game with
full screen, and a self play version is supplied.
PHONE BOOK:
Now you can keep all your friends' and relatives’
phone numbers on cassette, uses very fast data
retrieval technique.
DATE 81:
Computer dating program. . . who will it pick for
you?
16/81/2
ADVENTURE ATLANTIS:
You are shipwrecked in the middle of a terrific
storm. . . in this game you can become very rich. . .
or you may be marooned on a desert island for
ever!
BREAKOUT + self play vers:
A ZX81 implementation of the arcade game with
full screen, and a self play version is supplied.
TRANSL8R:
Translates any European language into any other!
This program stores its vocabulary on cassette.
COMPUTAPUNT:
Keeps statistical records of horses' or dogs' per¬
formances in races — and will make predictions on
future races.
both packs contain the four programs described; these programs come with user instructions 1
I and are loaded and ready to run. Pack:
both incl.
16/81/1 and 16/81/2 are £4.95 each or £595 for
VIC20 5k RAM VOLKSCOMPUTER
1 Tapebook 151 5 VIC-20 programs at £3.95: Tapebook 30 = £5.95 incl.
See list of ZX81 Tapebooks for details!
ACORN ATOM (original ROM) f/p not required
Code
Contents
a/1
STAR TREK: sound effects, damage control, help,
animated display + all features found on other
versions available, requires 6K + 4K upper text area
min.
PHONE BOOK keep records on a data tape of
useful phone nos, menu driven.
FRUIT MACHINE : 6K + mode3 graphics; £6.95 inc
a/2
Both a/1 and a/2 for £8.95
GALAXIONS, PIANO, requires 6K + 6K £6.95 inc
CONTROL TECHNOLOGY, 39 Gloucester Road, Gee
Cross, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 5JG. 061-368 7558
234 PCW
AHHCH COMMlMCflnONS Ltd.
MICRO CLOCK
The March Micro-Clock II is possibly the
cheapest and smallest real time clock card
for the APPLE II COMPUTER. The Micro-
Clock II is designed to provide a useful and
economical timing facility for incorporation
within the users own programs. The unit
provides a time count from tenths of
seconds to months and years. Once initiated 5
the count will continue without supervision
and can be read at any time.
Possible uses include: micro-monitored
experiments, micro-controlled processes,
data logging, games and lots more.
The comprehensive handbook contains the
necessary software and applications
programs required to make full use of the
card.
MOW AVAILABLE WITH BATTERY BACK-UP.
Available from most good Apple dealers
or direct from March Communications Ltd.
MARCH COMMUNICATIONS Ltd.
7, VICTORIA TERRACE
LIVERPOOL L15 5BH
Tel. 051-733 2618
Send me. Micro-Clock II cards @ £69.95 plus V.A.T.
Send details of the full range of March products.
I am paying by cheque/P.O./ Barclaycard/Access.
Barclaycard/Access Mo.
Marne .
Address
My present computer system is .
TESTED & ASSEMBLED
PCB’S & KITS
fulcrum- 6 MONTH GUARANTEE — REPAIR SERVICE S*
co.Pu'f. products | 8080 g 100 enclosure SHEET METAL KIT
Just like THE ORIGINAL IMSAI: Mainframe with blue cover, cardguides and
hardware spaced for PS-28D Power Supply, up to 22 slot motherboard
Kit of all metal parts and hardware with documentation .£120.00
Thinker Toys IV under Buss 20 for above w/o conn £85 .00
S-100 Connectors —each . £3.60
8015 Blank jump-start panel w/3 switches . £41.00
8035 Jump start panel for 2 SA-400 . £95.00
PS-28D POWER SUPPLY PARTS KIT
Mounts in the 1-8080 enclosure, supplies + 8V 28A, + /- 16V (fr 3A. kit
includes board, transformer, documentation, and all components. Improved
from original.
Kit . £180.00
PI0 4-4
4 parallel inputs and outputs (8212).£160.00
SI0 2-2
2 serial I/O ports, good to 9600 baud.£160.00
VIO-F
Improved memory mapped video I/O board, includes keyboard port, 256
character EPROM's, firmware, monitor.
Assembled & Tested .£269.00
DIO/CD
2 board disk controller for 8" or 5 V *".£299.00
CPM" 2.2
For DIO including documentation.£125.00
CPA
Improved Imsai style front panel works with Z80, etc.£249.00
MPU-A
8080 processor board—requires CPA £129.00
MPU-B
8085 3MHz processor SBC w/serial plus parallel port, monitor £249.00
RAM III 64K MEMORY
64K byte dynamic RAM board —Utilizes the Intel 3242 refresh controller and a
single delay line for totally internal refresh. Uses time proven 4116 RAMS,
memory mapped I/O boards are allowed to coexist by the use of phantom.
Board select via A16 thru A20 extended address lines.
Assembled & Tested . £349.00
IKB-1
Intelligent keyboard uses 8035.£189.00
MDX
Dual SA400 drive enclosure. £78.00
DE 8
Dual 800R/801R horizontal style enclosure w/power supply and fan £270.00
VIO-X
New port mapped video I/O board w/8085 processor, 8275 CRT controller
keyboard port, firmware.
Assembled & Tested . £249.00
IEEE 488 + 3P
New IEEE-488 I/O interface with 3 parallel ports.
Assembled & Tested . £599.00
COMPUTER SYSTEMS
INSTALLATION - SOFTWARE
PROGRAMMING - MAINTENANCE
FUI_CRUCV1“
. »««« COMPUTER PRODUCTS
1-8080 SYSTEM
The basic 8080 based S-100 system. Includes CPA front panel, 20 slot 10 MHz
motherboard (with all 20 connectors). MPU-A 8080 CPU board. PS-28D power
supply (+ 8V @ 28A, + / - 16V @ 3A), and chassis.
Assembled & Tested. With MPU-A .£706.00
1-8015 BASIC SYSTEM
The complete 8085 system, includes MPU-B, 64K RAM 10 slot terminated
motherboard. PS-28D. and jump start front panel.
Assembled & Tested .£1035.00
1-8025 COMPLETE BUSINESS SYSTEM
Includes 1-8015 system and DS-8 Disk system w/CPM 2.2.
Assembled & Tested.
1.2 M byte 8" drive.£2933.00
2 4 M byte 8" drive.£3017.00
1-8035
The 8085 computer system with twin 5V4" disk drives, DIO-D, MPU-b, 64K RAM,
chassis. 10 slot motherboard and power supply. Includes CPM’ 2.2.
180K store.£2386.00
360K store.£2686.00
780K store.£3186.00
Assembled & Tested.
V DP-40
Desk-top 8085 micro-computer system with keyboard, 9" CRT display, 10 slot
S-100 board, 64K RAM, twin 5 Vi" disk drives.
Assembled & Tested .2820.00
DS-8
Dual 801R horizontal style 8" disk enclosure w/power supply, fan, and 2 Shugart
801R drives.
Assembled & Tested .£855.00
Above w/DIO-C & CPM 2.2 .£1030.00
DS-5
Dual 5Vi" disk enclosure w/power supply, fan, and room for 2 drives.. £189.80
ALL PRICES PLUS VAT jjgjjj
WIDE RANGE OF COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE AVAILABLE
B 55oto
0245 357136
0621 828763
FOR FREE PRODUCT
BROCHURE AND DETAILS
OF OUR SUPPORT SERVICES
& DEALERS
Telex: 995411
Export enquiries welcome
PCW 235
ilnta^H
MIOTCQMPUTERHAHDWftHE/
SOFTWARE & ACCESSORIES
PC-BASIC
THE ONLY TRUE BASIC
COMPILER
WRITTEN IN MACHINE
CODE TO PRODUCE
MACHINE CODE
AVAILABLE NOW, for the
CBM 3000, 4000 and 8000
systems
The March Micro-Clock is possibly the cheapest and smallest real
time clock card for the Apple II computer. The Micro-Clock is
designed to provide a useful and economical timing facility for
incorporation within the users own programs. The unit provides
a time count from tenths of seconds to months and years. Once
initiated the count will continue without supervision and can be
read at any time without interfering in any way with the
operation of Micro-Clock.
Possible uses include: micro-monitored experiments, micro-
controlled processes, data logging, games and lots more.
* The code produced is REAL MACHINE CODE, NOT an
intermediate PSEUDO language, like other so-called
compilers.
This means SPEED, as the code produced does NOT need to be
interpreted when the program is running.
* Completeley re-written string handling for IMPROVED
SPEED and LOWER storage requirements.
Test program timings:—
10 FOR A% = 1T0100:FORB% = 1 T010
20A$ = AS + "1 +' 2 '+ 3 + 4 '+ 5 + 6 +" 7 + 8 + 9 + 0
30NEXTB%:A$ ='" :NEXTA%
Interpreted BASIC
PC-BASIC (COMPILED)
ALSO:— 2000, 10 character strings occupy:
BASIC 4 OVER 30,000 Bytes.
PC-BASIC 24,000 Bytes.
* NO GARBAGE COLLECTION
* TRUE INTEGER arithmetic, usable where you want it.
AND true integer arithmetic is FAST.
BUBBLE SORT of 100 integers from REVERSE order-
interpreted BASIC 130.90 Secs.
PC-BASIC 12.00 Secs.
* TRUE compiled ADDITIONS to BASIC. Not just to the
interpreter for evaluation.
* FULL error reporting on both the screen and printer.
00010 IF A = 3jPRINT B
***** ERROR 04 at 005 IN 00010: THEN OR GOTO EXPECTED AFTER IF
00020 IFAS < >"" THENIOOjAS
***** WARNING 02 AT 012 IN 00020: SUPERFLUOUS
CHARACTERS IGNORED
26.23 Secs.
5.30 Secs.
POP
POPFOR
POPI
REM%
The compiler is written COMPLETELY in
MACHINE CODE for extremely fast
compilation.
Extra Commands built in:—
POP return address from stack.
POP FOR LOOP (REAL).
POP FOR LOOP (INTEGER).
Convert all variables to integer, except
those in a REM/REAL statement.
REM/REAL X,Y
REM/INTEGER A,B
REM/STRING NAME,C,D
REM.LIST Indented listing
REM.XREF Cross ref. map of program
REM.STOP Enable run/stop key
REM.GO Auto run NULL input at an INPUT statement
INPUT $ PROMPT ;A S Input any characters, including commas and
quotes
INPUT # S Input records from disk upto 255
characters long
DATAS Hexadecimal data
PRICE £300 plus VAT
ADDITIONAL RUN-TIME CHIPS £25.00 EACH
PLEASE QUOTE: EC 1081
Eagleacliffe Ind. Eat. Stockton
Cleweland TS16 OPN To!(0642)701193
Intexf
Microtalker £84.95 + V.A.T. I
The March Communications Micro-Talker I is designed for use
with the Apple II computer and is based on the national
Semiconductor Digitalker™ chip set. The basic vocabulary is in
excess of 140 words. The speech system used involves digital
compression of a REAL VOICE and thus Micro-Talker does not use
animated robot-like phonetic generators. The result is a clearer
and cleaner speech output than is usually achieved with
conventional computer voice synthesis equipment.
The Micro-Talker I can be programmed from either low or high
level languages with a minimum of software overhead. This then
leaves maximum space available for user programs.
Applications include verbal warning devices, process control and
data monitoring, point of sale terminals.
Microport £49.95 + V.A.T. I
In keeping with March Communications design philosophy of
producing small low cost peripheral cards for the Apple II
computer, we have developed a dual port card. Each port
provides eight input/output lines and two handshake lines.
The card is based on the Motorola MC 6821 peripheral interface
adapter device. The TTL lines terminate in 20-way ribbon cable-
connectors and suitable matching cables are supplied with the
card.
Applications include process control, data monitoring, alarm
systems, music systems, model railway control, etc.
Microsynth £49.95 + V.A.T. I
The March Communications Micro-Synth produces complex
sound waveforms under user program control. It consists of two
AY-3-8910 programmable sound generator devices which enable
the user to obtain both sound effects and music.
Possible applications include games, music composing aid,
electronic organs.
THE COMPREHENSIVE HANDBOOKS CONTAIN THE NECESSARY
SOFTWARE AND APPLICATIONS PROGRAMS REQUIRED TO MAKE
FULL USE OF THE CARDS.
MARCH COMMUNICATIONS Ltd.
4 COMMUTATION ROW
LIVERPOOL LI 1JB
Tel. 051-207 7477
r-1
I For details of the MARCHCARDS and a FREE copy of our ■
comprehensive book list, fill in the coupon and post to:— 1
I March Communications Ltd., 4 Commutation Row .
Liverpool LI 1JB |
| Name . |
| Address . J
i . i
| Telephone. J
L_J
236 PCW
-ELFTON LIMITED-
'APPLIED TECHNOLOGY"
Recession or no recession, you want a computer or you wouldn't be reading this. Right?
By streamlining our operation we have brought forward that magic moment for you.
Compare THESE prices! All products are brand new, boxed and fully guaranteed.
COMMODORE
APPLE
1
ITT
VIC 20
£165
48K Europlus £649
48K 2020
£549
4032N
£579
Disk Drive
Full system:
4016N
£459
& Controller £319
48K processor
8032
£749
Disk Drive £249
2 drives
8050
£749
9" Monitor £ 99
12" green monitor £1199
C2N
£ 49
HP and leasing may be possible, otherwise please send cheque with order, after adding VAT and £20 for Securicor
delivery to: ELFTON Ltd. Mail Order Divn., Advance Chambers, Surtees Street, Hartlepool, Cleveland.
Telephone: Hartlepool 61770. (Do not hesitate to check prices on any item not quoted here).
SHUGART FLOPPY DISK DRIVES
No case. No Power Supply
SA 400 5 V*" S.S.S.D.
SA 450 5 'A" D.S.S.D.
SA 800 8" S.S.S.D.
THE BODY OF ANY
SYSTEM
Lets face it — you
can't produce as crisp
an image on a
domestic T.V. as you
can on a Crofton
monitor.
Typically
P4 White £64.97
P31 Green £79.32
These monitor/floppy disk
drive prices are dependent
upon sterling-dollar con¬
version rates. Please phone
us for up-to-date prices.
£149.05
£283.31
£340.52
FLOPPY DISKS - BOXES OF TEN
Single sided
35/40 Track
£
26.45
Double sided
35/40 Track
5%"
£
37.95
Single sided
77 Track
£
41.40
Double sided
77 Track
5%"
£
47.15
Single sided
8"
£
40.25
CALLING ALL ZX81 USERS !
CONVERT YOUR ZX81 TO FULL SIZE QUERTY
KEYBOARD. ASK FOR DETAILS.
SPECIAL OFFER
§ MINIATURE CCTV CAMERAS. £130
USED COMPUTER DESKS ... •. £38
(Note: Personal Callers Only) \
ALL THE ABOVE PRICES INCLUDE V.A.T. AND
CARRIAGE
fiBBHI ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS
ACCEPTED — Small surcharge
CROFTON ELECTRONICS LTD
35 Grosvenor Road, Twickenham, Middx TW1 4AD
01-891 1923/1513
| NEW 64K RAMCARD FOR THE APPLE]
for little more than you could pay for the old 16K RAMCARD. It will
replace the 16K card as a LANGUAGE CARD. Uses bank selection
similar to 16K card. Each'APPLE can power up to 3 of these 64K
cards plus 1 16K card giving an
INCREDIBLE % MEGABYTES OF RAM
64K cards only £189 each
16K RAMCARDS available at the much reduced price of £69.
Other Apple cards available:
EPROM PROGRAMMER
Programs 5V EPROMS including the 2716, 2732 and
the new 2764 64K-bit EPROM.
EPROM EXPANSION CARD
Holds six 5 Volt 2716's or 2516's (not included) for a
total of 12K bytes of read only memory.
SPEECH SYNTHESISER
Uses Votrax SC-01 chip to give UNLIMITED
VOCABULARY. Requires 10 bytes/sec for continuous
speech. Demonstration software on disc.
VIA BOARD
Adds two 8-bit input/output ports, a serial port and
2 timers to your Apple.
CLOCK SOFTWARE £7/£8 on disc
Together with the VIABOARD will provide your Apple
with a real-time clock.
SINGLE CHANNEL ADC £29
140 micro-second conversion time 8-bit ADC. Provides
full 8-bit resolution between any two levels within
0— +5V range.
16 CHANNEL ADC £49
Less than 100 micro-second conversion time 8-bit ADC.
SINGLE CHANNEL DAC £28
8-bit adjustable 0— + 10V full scale buffered voltage output
DAC (settling time 500 mono-seconds).
PET ADC'S AND DAC'S
SINGLE CHANNEL ADC £38
140 micro-second conversion time 8-bit ADC. Provides full
8-bit resolution between any two levels within 0— +5V range.
SINGLE CHANNEL DAC £36
8-bit adjustable 0— + 10V full scale buffered voltage output
DAC (settling time 500 mono-seconds)
All prices inclusive of VAT and postage & packing
Cheques or official orders to: _
MERTON ELECTRONICS Dept. PW
8 Rutlish Road Wimbledon London, SW19
TEL: 01-543 3533
£58
£39
£179
£38
PCW 237
WE LL PAY YOU TO
WITH MICROS
Would you like to work on the very latest micro
machinery in a soon-to-be-created Software
Evaluation Department associated with
Personal Computer World magazine?
Wide experience and a deep obsession with all
aspects of microcomputing vital. Ability to
write reports an asset but not essential.
Excellent salary negotiable appropriate with
experience. Write (do not phone) in strict
confidence, with full CV, to:
Managing Director
Bunch Publishers Ltd
14 Rathbone Place
London W1P IDE
SPECIAL OFFERS
T1 99/4
PERSONAL COMPUTER
PLUS: SUITABLE RECORDER
VALUE Tl CASSETTE CABLE ^,h
£45 LIBRARY OF MIXED PROGS. vat
T199/4 PLUS PROGS ONLY £243 (£279 with VAT)
ALSO:
DISCOUNTS ON ALL Tl COMMAND MODULES
THE SUPERB 48K RAM
DAI INCLUDING:
PERSONAL
COMPUTER
SUITABLE RECORDER ONLY
AND LIBRARY OF £595
MIXED PROGRAMS £684
_ WITH VAT
OUR MOBILE SHOWROOM IS
AVAILABLE FOR VISITS ON REQUEST
ORDERS TO:
FREE
WITH
FIRST 10
ORDERS
T-XVTITJ777ITT7T7TT
HEADINGLEY ROAD, RUSHDEN
NORTHANTS.
TEL: (09334) 56894 or 55673 (ANY TIME)
Tl 99/4 P.C.
NAME:
SPECIAL OFFER
£299
Tl 99/4 PLUS
ADDRESS
LIBRARY ONLY
£279
D.A.I. P.C.
SPECIAL OFFER
£684
CHEQUE, ETC. FOR
ENCLOSED
TEL: ( )
This GRAPHPL OTTING SOFTWARE
is free when you purchase Digi-Plot
from us!
No. 2 TABLET PLOT More unique
software to interface the APPLE —
GRAPHICS TABLET and DIGI-
PLOT F ree when you purchase
either Digi-Plot or Tablet from us!
APPLE II 799
DIGI-PLOT 895
APPLE PAR. INT. 104
VISICALC 111
APPLE PLOT 37
GRAPH PLOTTING 105
TABLET PLOT 95
GRAPHICS TABLET 462
No. 3 Get the MOST
VERSATILE and
LOW COST printers
for your APPLE II, and take
advantage of its versatile
character set from within
APPLE WRITER
PROGRAMS FROM THE LARGEST EAST ANGLIAN
MICROCOMPUTER & APPLE DISTRIBUTORS !!!
The EPSON/APPLE WRITER
CHARACTER GENERATOR
EPSOM MX80 F/T
EPSON MX 100
EPSON MX 130
APPLE WRITER
£399
£450 (WITH GRAPHICS)
£575
£CALL
£42
APPLE 3 STILL WAITING?
then contact us immediately!!
flriGLlfl COmPUTER CEnTRE 1
MICROCOMPUTER SPECIALISTS
FOR BUSINESS AND SCIENCE
88 St Benedict's Street,
Norwich NR2 4AB
Telephone (0603) 29652
No.
No.
No.
No.
4 CASHBOOK PROGRAMME suitable for personal,
Departmental, societies and institutional financial
records. £95
5 COSTING your production of ASSEMBLED MENUS
Includes Stock Control, Price Update and Sub
Assembly Costs. Written in Pascal £650
6 PROPERTY RENTAL - all financial records &
transactions for property renting - suitable for
Estate Agents. In Pascal £295
7 EXAM TIME - Save yourself time in preparing
multiple choice questions and after exam tuition.
Suitable schools, colleges and industry training.
£49
OR ARE YOU STILL TRYING TO GRASP COMPUTING
WITH ZX80/ZX81 ??
To help you we will trade your
ZX80 for something better!
Starting with ACORN ATOM
We are full stockists of all
ACORN HARDWARE & SOFT¬
WARE plus our own unique
ANGLIA ATOM ASSEMBLER:
to help you see into the heart
of machine code programming
and computing itself . . .
Cost £14.98 or FREE with
EVERY ASSEMBLED ACORN ATOM purchased from us.
Also stock GP80 printers and connecting cables.
WE OFFER FAST DELIVERY.
APPLE PLUS
No. 1 + DIGI-PLOT
Unique Graph plotting
software is available to
plot graphs from
APPLE PLOT and
VISICALC
238 PCW
ADVERTISERS INDEX
Abacus 223
Acorn 121,227
Adda 47
Adler 11
Algray 206
Aim arc 51
Altek 216
Altwasser 227
Anglia Comp Centre 238
Anpac 233
Audio Computers 225
Averv Computer Co 206
BHRA 221
BMC 98
Bit’s & PC’s 202
Bobker 188
Butel 216
CRA Apple Dealer Group 104
Calco 206
Calisto 220
Cambridge Comp Store 232
Cambridge Learning 49
Cardiff Micros 232
Cascade Computers 227
Casio 186
Cetronics 231
Chromasonic 53
Comart 143,146
Commercial Data Systems 160
Commodore PET 56,57
Comp Shop 240,IBC
Compsoft 140
Computech 38
Computer Bookshop 168
Computer Centre
(Watford) 200
Computer Company 196
Computer Contact 238
Computers For All 197
Computer Supermarket 120
Computopia 82
Control Technology 234
Control Universal 210
Crab 188
Cream 222
Creative Computing 76
Crestway Electronics 27
Crofton 237
Cromwell Computing 150
Cumana 44
Currah 225
DJ AI Systems 199
Datalink
203
D ataman
37
Datatronic
106
Dataview
132,231
Datron
220
Davinci
224
Deans
27
Digico
191
Digitus
2
Disking
187
Diskwise
224
Display
33
Dola
202
EMAP
22,23
EMG 226
,228,230
Easicomp
218
Electronic Brokers
190
Elfton
237
Equinox
154
Essential Software
111,158
Fergusson
124
Fulcrum
235
Fuller
188
GW Computers
18,19,20
Gate
228
Gemini
208
General Northern
192
Geveke
160
Granata
84
Grange Electronics
191
Guestel
130
HCCS Associates
202
Hal 59,60,61,132
Happy Memories
198
Harding
12,13
Helistar
198
Henry’s Radio
84,195
Hewlett Packard
4,5,14
Hisoft
229
Hitech
234
Honeywell
30
Hunting Business
Systems
214
ITT
112
Independent Comp Eng 52
Intelligent Artefacts
21
Interam
96,103
Interface ZX80/81
229
Intex
236
KGB Micros
28
Kansas City Systems
208
Katotek
102
Keen
80
Kelly’s
194
A&G Knight
216
Kram
226
L&J Computers
158
LSI
113
Leicester
150
Leisure Reference
27
Lifeboat
88
Linsac
190
Lion House
209
Lisiar
39
Little Genius
London Computer
196
Centre
34
MPI
36
McGraw-Hill
210
Maddison
196
Maplin
March
29
Communications
235,236
Melbourne House
189
Merton Electronics
238
Microcentre
Microcomputer
IFC
Applications
Microcomputer
230
Spacedome
193
Microdigital
7-10,65
Microfocus
15
Microgeneral
190
Micronetworks
48
Micronex
31
Microsave
232
Microstvle
Microtek f Orpington)
Microtek (Ipswich)
217
211
150
Microvalue
24,25
Micro 8
16
Midwich
221
Modmags
223
NSC
50
Newbear
204
Newnes
230
Newtronics
207
Northamber
72,73
Olympia
Tim Orr Design
86
208
Oxford Computer
Systems
219
Personal Computers
OBC
Personal Computer
Palace
229
Petalect
91
Pete & Pam
26,125
Phipps Associates
200
Photo Acoustics
214
Portatel
221
Prentice-Hall
17,205
Printout
Professional Data
94
Systems
224
Program Power
87
Qume
42
Rade
90
SBD Consultants
212
SMG
186
SRS Microsystems
32
ST Commercial
212
Sharp
97
Sharpsoft
189
Sinclair 128.135-138
Sintrom
213
WH Smith
6
Spangrade
218
Spider Software
216
Spreebond
84,194
Startech
191
Strumech
215
Superior Systems
201
Swanley
226
Symbiotic
188
Tangerine
43
Technomatic
218
Teleprinter Equipment 144
Telesoft
192
Temple man Software
222
Tempus
233
Tex
198
Transam
35,40
Transdata
92
Twinlock
Video Services
66
(Bromley)
222
Watford Electronics
45
Westfarthing
228
Westwood
214
Wilkes
41
Windfall
234
X-Data
152
Xitan
46
fthipfthat
Wow! Did we have a Show!
Almost 16,500 of you turned
up at the Cunard over the
three days, making it the
country’s most successful
micro show ever. . . Mike
‘Hello Sailor’ Sterland
insisted on dressing his stand
staff as Midshipman Horn-
blower look-alikes then spent
the entire show explaining to
everyone the obscure connec-'
tion — the show was at the
Cunard Hotel, geddit?
(No — Ed). . . ‘Bumper’
Harris dropped — or, rather,
stumped — by the Acorn
stand to see the BBC Micro
and was amused to see an
Acorn minion lift the
machine’s lid every ten
minutes and spray the inside
with an instant-ice
aerosol. . . Winfried Hofacker
of Elcomp showed us his
Atari monitor. Very impres¬
sive, except that just as
Winfried was explaining
that the English was
absolutely perfect, the word
‘adress’ appeared on the
screen. . . When Sinclair ran
out of Barclaycard slips,
people became so desperate
that they started nicking
them from nearby stands. . .
Overheard in the coffee shop:
one American asking another
if he had any fragmentation
grenades with which to clear
a path to see the ZX Printer
. . . Microsoft’s Alan Boyd
has at last found a use for the
Sorcerer — as a paperweight
. . . When asked ‘Have you
got an Apple?’ one of the girls
on the stand of a ‘certain
other micro magazine’
rummaged in her handbag
and said, ‘No, but would
you like some peanuts?’. . .
An American couple joined
the end of the Show queue
and when, after a very long
time, they reached the
registration desk, asked for
two single rooms. . . Until
they met the luscious Susan
Ben-David, The Last One’s
programmers thought that
SBD stood for Silent But
Deadly. . . The lovely Viv
Collins sold a ticket to one
man and said ‘Thank you,
sir’. He replied, ‘Actually,
I’d rather be called Madam.’
Closer inspection revealed
that he was in fact wearing
ladies’ clothes. . . How’s
this for cheek: a punter sat
down for a demo at The
Last One’s stand and, after
being shown how it worked
at great length, used it to
produce a suite of business
programs, which he listed
out on a printer. Then he
scuttled off around a corner
where his client was waiting
and sold the listings for
£150!. . . And no, he wasn’t
from Comp Shop. . . Felix
Dennis, our publisher, having
ensured that 16,439 people
paid for their tickets, finally
gave in at 3.30 on the last
day and told a man he could
go in for free. Felix could
hardly believe his luck
when the man insisted on
paying even though the show
was closing in half an hour
. . . Even Vince Cohen liked
the Show. . . And how about
the two men who spotted a
sign at the Show which said
‘The Last One’. One turned
to the other and said, ‘What
a pity, it seems to be going
so well!’. . . The biggest
disappointment was the
failure of ‘Legless’ and
‘Bumper’ to perform their
promised dance on the fly¬
over after the Show.
‘Bumper’ stalked off in a
huff after ‘Bogey’ had failed
to recognise him and
‘Legless’ was too, well, tired
and emotional to oblige,
despite the encouragement
of the crowds blocking the
flyover. . . Finally, our
sincere thanks to all of you
who braved the queues and
the crush to help make the
show a success; we hope we
see you all again next year in
a bigger (and better air-
conditioned) location —
Hyde Park, maybe?
PCW 239
NEW Er
EXCITING
TRS80
MODEL
III
ROM-based
48K £619 + vat
The Radio Shack TRS-80™ Model Ml k
computer system consisting of:
• A 12-inch screen to display results and other information
• A 65-key console keyboard for inputting programs and data
to the Computer • A Z-80 Microprocessor, the "brains" of
the system • A Real-Time Clock • Read Only Memory
(ROM) containing the Model III BASIC Language (fully
compatible with most Model I BASIC programs) • Random
Access Memory (RAM) for storage of programs and data
while the Computer is on (amount is expandable from "16K"
to"48K", optional extra) • A Cassette Interface for long-term
storage of programs and data (requires a separate cassette
recorder, optional/extra) • A Printer Interface for hard-copy
output of programs and data (requires a separate line printer,
optional/extra) • Expansion area for upgrading to a disk-
based system (optional/extra) •Expansion area for an RS-
232 C serial communications interface (optional/extra)
All these components are contained in a single moulded case,
and all are powered via one power cord.
Disc Drives Kit with 2x40 Track Drives - £599 +VAT
Disc Drives Kit with 2x80 Track Drives — £729 +VAT
Add £26 for Installation
WE ARE NOW STOCKING THE
APPLE II AT REDUCED PRICES
AUTOSTART
EURO PLUS
48K
_ £599
**£**■"* + VAT
Getting Started APPLE II is faster, smaller, and more
powerful than its predecessors. And it's more fun to use too
because of built-in features like:
• BASIC - The Language that Makes Programming Fun.
• High-Resolution Graphics (in a 54,000-Point Array) for
Finely-Detailed Displays. •Sound Capability that Brings
Programs to Life. • Hand Controls for Games and Other
Human-Input Applications. •Internal Memory Capacity of
48K Bytes of RAM, 12K Bytes of ROM; for Big-System Per¬
formance in a Small Package. • Eight Accessory Expansion
Slots to let the System Grow With Your Needs.
You don't need to be an expert to enjoy APPLE II. It is a
complete, ready-to-run computer. Just connect it to a video
display and start using programs (or writing your own) the
first day. You'll find that its tutorial manuals help you make it
your own personal problem solver.
GET YOURSELF jSfeSgjgg
A NEW MX70
PRINTER AND SAVE*" 5 ®
A FORTUNE
only £249
APPLE DISC II
3.3 Dos
Disc with
Controller
£349 VAT
Additional Drives
£299 vat
• Powerful Disk Operating Software Supports up to 6
drives • Name Access to Files for Ease of Use • BASIC
Program Chaining to Link Software Together •Random
or Sequential File Access to Simplify Programming
• Dynamic Disk Space Allocation for Efficient Storage
• Individual File Write-Protection Eliminates Accidental
File Alterations • Loads an 8K Byte Binary Image in 6.5
sec. (1.2 sec. in Pascal) •Storage Capacity of 116
Kilobytes (143K Bytes with Pascal) on Standard 5 ’A"
Diskettes •Powered Directly From the APPLE (Up to 6
Drives) for Convenience and High Reliability • Packaged
in Heavy-Duty, Colour-Coordinated Steel Cabinet
Colour Monitors for Apple £295 + VAT
• 80 Column, • Upper &
lower case • Apple dot Graphics
• Centronics Parallel • Uni-directiona
ACORN ATOM
UNIQUE IN CONCEPT -
THE HOME COMPUTER
THAT GROWS AS YOU DO
Very popular for home & business use. 8K Microsoft Basic in
ROM. 32K with new improved keyboard. 12" screen.
Cassette Deck £55 extra
Special features include • Full Sized Keyboard •
Assembler and Basic • Top Quality Moulded Case • High
Resolution Colour Graphics • 6502 Microprocessor
TV GAME BREAK OUT
Has got to be one of the
world's greatest TV games
You really get hooked As
featured in ETI. Has also 4
other pinball gamesland lots
of options. Good kit for
up-grading old amusement
games.
MINI KIT - PCB, sound & vision modulator, memory chip |
and de code chip. Very simple to construct £14.90 » VAT |
OR PCB £2.90 MAIN LSI £8.50 Both plus VAT
It's a new kind of musical instrument. A computer controlled I
synthesiser that helps you create, play and arrange composi- I
tions that normally take years of musical training.
CENTRONICS 737
DOT MATRIX
PRINTER
8032
80 COLUMN PET
ONLY £825 + VAT
The reliable value for money
system with after sales support,
instruction and training facilities
and a wide range of
programmes.
TT& MEMORY UPGRADES
16K (8x4116) £15.90 +VAT
4K Compukit (8 x 2114) £15.90 +vat
COMMODORE
VIC-20
TANTEL
ONLY
£169
+ VAT
Demonstation available
at our showroom
PRESTEL BY TANTEL The greatest thing since television &
telephones. Communications at your fingertips for business
& home. 180,000 pages of up-to-date information on travel,
news, investment, holidays, hotels etc etc. Ask Prestel a
question and you have your answer in seconds in full colour
on your own TV. Only requires a telephone jack socket
available from the PO.
only £369 VAT
including cables
Standard Features
• 80 CPS - Proportional
Spaced Mode ©50 CPS -
Mono'paced Mode •Proportional Spacing, Plus 10 CPI
and 16.7 CPI • N x 9 (Proportional) or 7 x 8 (Monospaced)
Dot Matrix *7x8 Dot Matrix ©3 Way Paper Handling
System *96 Character ASCII plus 6 European character
sets • Microprocessor Electronics • Expanded Print • Right
Margin Justification • Print Underlining • 9-Wire Free Flight
Print Head • Bidirectional Stepper Motor Paper Drive • Full
One Line Buffer ®21 LPM With 80 Columns Printed ®58
LPM With 20 Columns Printed ®6 Lines Per inch Vertical
Spacing ©Paper Tear Bar ©Centronic Colours and Logo
• 16 foreground colours
• 8 background colours
• Real typewriter keyboard with full graphics
• Music in three voices and three octaves
• Language and sound effects
HITACHI
PROFESSIONAL
MONITORS
- £429 £99.95
12" - £499 £149
• Reliability Solid state circuitry using an 1C and silicon
transistors ensures high reliability. • 500 lines horizontal
resolution Horizontal resolution in excess of 500 lines is
achieved in picture center. • Stable picture Even played
back pictures of VTR can be displayed without jittering.
• Looping video input Video input can be looped through
with built-in termination switch. • External sync opera¬
tion (available as option for U and C types) • Compact
construction Two monitors are mountable side by side in a
standard 19-inch rack.
MICROLINE 80 £299 + vat
• 80 cps Uni directional ©Small size: 342 (W) x 254 (D) x
108 (H) mm. • 160 Characters, 96 ASCII and 64 graphics ©3
Character sizes: 40, 80 or 132 chars/line • Friction
and Pin Feed • Low noise: 65 dB • Low weight: 6.5 kg
MICROLINE 82 £449 +vat
• 80 cps Bi-directional logic seeking ©Small size: 360 (W)
x 328(D) x 130(H) mm. • 160 characters, 96 ASCII and 64
graphics, with 10 National character-set Variants. ®4
Character sizes: 40, 66, 80 or 132 chars/line. • Built-in
parallel and serial interfaces. • Friction and Pin Feed
• Low noise: 65dB • Low weight: 8kg
MICROLINE 83 £779 + vat
• 120 cps bi-directional logic seeking • 136 column printing
on up to 15in forms • Small size: 512 (W) x 328 (D) x 130
(H) mm. • 160 characters, 96 ASCII and 64 graphics with 10
National character-set variants ®3 Character spacings: 5, 10
and 16.5 Chars/in. ©Built-in parallel and serial Interfaces
• Friction and Pin Feed ©Low noise 65dB ©Low
weight: 13 kg
THE VIDEO GENIE SYSTEM
Ideal for small businesses, schools, colleges, homes, etc.
Suitable for the experienced, inexperienced, hobbyist,
teacher etc - EG 3000
Series
• 16K user RAM
plus extended 12K Microsoft
BASIC in ROM • Fully TRS-80 Level II
software compatible • Huge
range of software already available • Self contained, PSU,
UHF modulator, and cassette ©Simply plugs into video
monitor or UHF TV ©Full expansion to disks and printer
• Absolutely complete — just fit into mains plug.
The Video Genie is a complete computer system, requiring
only connection to a domestic 625 line TV set to be fully
operational; or if required a video monitor can be connected
to provide the best quality display. 51 key typewriter style
keyboard, which features a 10 key rollover. Supplied with
the following accessories:- ©BASIC demonstration tape;
• Video lead; ©Second cassetee lead; ©Users manual;
• BASIC manual; • Beginners programming manual. Write
useful programs in the BASIC computer language yourself.
VIDEO GENIE
EXPANSION BOX
Complete with RS232 interface and floppy disc
controller. O memory. £225 + VAT
Memory expansion card (S100) 16K £110 32K £159 + VAT
240 PCW
M^IUJ IC3A»m 3U I UHJ I MCWAA II Jl
YOUR ZX80 IS
NOW NO LONGER
REDUNDANT
Upgrade your ZX80 to the full animated graphics of
the ZX81. (No screen flicker).
FOR ONLY £12.95 + VAT IN KIT FORM
Works only in conjunction with NEW 8K ROM from
Sinclair (Not Included).
EUROPE'S FASTEST SELLING ONE BOARD COMPUTER
POMPUKIT UK101
★ 6502 based system best value for
money on the market ★ Powerful 8K
Basic Fastest around ★ Full Qwerty
Keyboard ★ IK RAM Expandable to 8K
on board ★ Power supply and RF
Modulator on board ★ No Extras
needed Plug in and go ★ Kansas City
Tape Interface on board. ★ Free
Sampler Tape including powerful
Disassembler and Monitor with each
Kit. ★ If you want to learn about
Micros, but didn't know which machine
to buy then this is the machine for you.
made it the most
s©*
which' 70 ,” ,a sav 'ng|
s *~ ZZVUE? ”
KIT ONLY £99.95 + VAT
Fully Assembled — £149 VAT
NEW MONITOR IN ROM - available separately at £7.90 * VAT.
Improved Basic function - revised GARBAGE routine Allows correct use of STRING ARRAYS £4.90
This chip can be sold separately to existing Compukit and Super board users. + VAT
FOR THE COMPUKIT Assembler Editor £14.90
GAME PACKS 1) Four Games £5.00 2) Four Games £5.00 3) Three Games 8K only £5.00
Super Space Invaders (8K> £6.50 Chequers £3.00 Realtime Clock £3.00
Case for Compukit £29.50 40 pin Expansion Jumper Cable £8.50 All Prices exclusive VAT
TTL SALE
74LS00
£0.10
74LS86
£0.30
74LS04
£0.10
74LS93
£0.50
74LS05
£0.15
74LS157
£0.60
74LS10
£0.15
74LS165
£0.90
74LS32
£0.20
74LS365
£0.40
74LS74
£0.25
74LS373
£1.20
Minimum Order £5
Z80
6502 £4.90
ACIA 6850 £1.90
OP AMP
CA3130 £0.45
REG
PANASONIC KX-T1520
AUTOMATIC
TELEPHONE
ANSWERING
SYSTEM
Low Profile Sockets
14 PIN £0.05
16 PIN £0.06
18 PIN £0.10
20 PIN £0.15
24 PIN £0.20
40 PIN £0.27
OUR NEW SUPER LOCATION
IN IRELAND
19 Herbert Street, Dublin 2.
Telephone: Dublin 604165
HEAR OUR ADS ON
RADIO NOVA 88.1 VHF Stereo
NEC
SPINWRITER
NEC's high quality printer uses a print "thimble" that has
less diameter and inertia than a daisy wheel, giving a quieter,
faster, more reliable printer that can cope with plotting and
printing (128 ASCII characters) with up to five copies, fric¬
tion or tractor fed. The ribbon and thimble can be changed in
seconds. 55 characters per second bidirectional printing —
with red/black, bold, subscript, superscript, proportional
spacing, tabbing, and much, much more.
FANTASTIC FOR FILE HANDLING
ACULAB
FLOPPY
TAPE
The tape that behaves
a disc, for TRS-80
LEVEL2 - only £169+ VAT
The Aculab Floppy Tape for the TRS-80 and Video Genie is a
highly reliable digital storage system that provides many of
the advantages of floppy disks at less cost. Automatic
debounce routine for the Level 2 keyboard.
Connects directly to TRS 80 Level 2 Keyboard. Operating
and file handling software in ROM 8 commands add 12
powerful functions to Level 2 BASIC.
8MHz Super Quality Modulators
£4.90
6MHz Standard Modulators
£2.90
C12 Computer Grade Cassettes
10 for £4.00
Anadex Printer Paper 2000 sheets
£15.00
Floppy Discs 5’A" Hard and Soft Sectored
£2.90
Floppy Disc Library Case 5%"
£3.50
Ribbons DP8000
DP9500/9501
£12.50
All Prices exclusive VAT
(■■■■NHMHHMi
One of the most technically advanced telephone
answering units available, the KX T1520 features a double
cassette system, a C60 cassette for incoming calls, which
can be limited to 30 secs each or recorded in their entirety,
and a 20 sec continuous loop cassette for your outgoing
messages which are recorded through the built-in
microphone. Your telephone conversations can also be
recorded after a bleep tone has notified your caller they are
being taped. Incoming calls can be monitored and the ring
control is adjustable
The remote call in pick up with Playback/Reset/Repeat
and Skip controls, activates the system to play back your
messages to you over the phone wherever you are in the
world
WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST
COLLECTIONS OF COMPUTER BOOKS
UNDER ONE ROOF, ALONG WITH
RACKS OF SOFTWARE FOR
THE GENIE AND TRS80.
£79.90
+ VAT
COMPUTER
POWER THAT
ONCE FILLED A ROOM
CAN NOW BE CARRIED IN YOUR POCKET'
• Programs in BASIC •"QWERTY” Alphabetic
Keyboard *1.9K Random Access Memory
• Long Battery Life.
^A/e give a full one year's guarantee
on all our products, which
’normally only carry 3 months guarantee.
A SELECTION OF APPLE INTERFACES
ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT OUR
EDGWARE ROAD SHOWROOM
Delivery is added at cost. Please make cheques and postal orders payable to COMPSHOP LTD.
quoting BARCLAYCARD, ACCESS, DINERS CLUB or AMERICAN EXPRESS number
I \ M1171 TjTT; ^ | CREDIT FACILITIES ARRANGED send S A E for application form.
14 Station Road, New Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 1QW (Close to New Barnet BR Station
Telephone: 01-441 2922 (Sales) 01 449 6596 Telex: 298755 TELCOM G
OPEN (BARNET) — 10am - 7pm — Monday to Saturday
, or phone your order
Moor gate Line}.
“Europes Largest Discount
Personal Computer Stores ”
NEW WEST END SHOWROOM:
311 Edgware Road, London W2. Telephone: 01 262 0387
OPEN (LONDON) — 10am - 6pm — Monday to Saturday
<£ IRELAND: 19 Herbert Street, Dublin 2. Telephone: Dublin 604156
{k. COMPSHOP USA, 1348 East Edinger, Santa Ana. California. Zip Code 92705
Telephone 0101 714 5472526
TELEPHONE SALES
OPEN 24 hrs. 7 days a week
01-449 6596
BUYING THE HARDWARE IS
ONLY HALF THE STORY...
bring your colleagues ... excellent demonstrations
Come & visit us
.. ex-stock items
... in the unlikely event,
...At Personal Computers we’ll
give It a happy ending.
Personal Computers Limited have been in the personal
computing business right from the start — so we’ve got
our values sorted out.
It’s important for you to choose the right hardware and
vital to select the right software.
To help you make the right choice we offer our highly-
trained staff.
They know what makes computers whirr, and they know
how to give you the right kind of support and
maintenance.
THE BEST AVAILABLE
We stock the best available hardware and software
packages in the market.
Such as Apple and Sharp units, with the latest additions
like 16K RAM card.
We have I.E.E.E. Interface, low cost serial, parallel
interfaces, Doublevision 80 character card, numeric
keypads, personal computer plotters, Paper Tiger printers
and much more besides.
Whatever you need in computing, we will satisfy your
requirements.
FROM PERSONAL COMPUTERS
• Small Business/Accounting. We provide low-cost
invoicing, purchase, sales and general ledger
systems.
• Financial Planning. Micromodeller or Visicalc for ad
hoc or regular financial reporting.
• Dow Jones & Prestel (including I.P. Terminal) services'
to the city, plus access to city commodities data base.
• Word Processing. Our Format 80 system is recognised
as the best of its kind.
• Databases. State-of-the-art products like Personal
Filing Systems and Data Factory.
• Graphics. Pad to plotter software and low-cost plotter.
• Technical Support. Our knowledge of computer
languages and application requirements is unrivalled.
And we can°supply either on-site or in-house
maintenance.
Once again... Personal Computers Limited give the story
a happy ending.
Computers are only as good as the people who use them
... and sell them. Think about that! Then give us a call.
Personal Computers Limited
Masters of Personal Computer Technology
194/200 Bishopsgate London EC2M 4NR Tel: 01-626 8121
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9/11